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Influence of Silicon Additives on Tribological and Rheological Test Results for Vegetable Lubricants
Rafal Kozdrach1, Jolanta Drabik1, Marian Szczerek2
1Department of Bioeconomy and Ecoinnovation, Lukasiewicz Research Network-Institute for Sustainable Technologies, 26-600 Radom, Poland.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 28, 2023
Summary
This study shows that adding montmorillonite and aerosil (amorphous silica) significantly improves the wear resistance and lubricating properties of vegetable oil-based greases. These additives enhance lubricant performance under load.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Tribology
- Rheology
Background:
- Vegetable oils are sustainable lubricant bases but often require property enhancement.
- Silicone-based additives like amorphous silica (Aerosil®) and layered silicates (montmorillonite) are investigated for lubricant modification.
- Understanding additive effects on lubricant properties is crucial for developing high-performance bio-based lubricants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of amorphous silica (Aerosil®) and montmorillonite on the tribological and rheological properties of vegetable oil-based lubricants.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of these siliceous additives in enhancing the functional performance of lubricants thickened with soap.
- To provide insights into the interaction between siliceous additives and vegetable oil greases under tribological stress.
Main Methods:
- Lubricant blends were prepared using rapeseed, linseed, and soy oils thickened with soap.
- Additives included Aerosil® (amorphous silica) and montmorillonite (layered silicate).
- Tribological properties were assessed using a four-ball concentric contact tester.
- Rheological properties were analyzed by measuring changes in dynamic viscosity and viscoelastic indices (G', G″).
Main Results:
- Amorphous silica addition enhanced the anti-seizure and anti-wear characteristics of the lubricants.
- Montmorillonite significantly improved lubricating properties compared to silica-modified lubricants.
- Rheological tests revealed that additives altered dynamic viscosity and the chemical structure (G', G″ indices) of the lubricants.
- Both montmorillonite and Aerosil additives demonstrably improved the overall functional properties of the vegetable-based plastic lubricants.
Conclusions:
- Montmorillonite and Aerosil are effective additives for enhancing the tribological and rheological performance of vegetable oil-based greases.
- The study confirms the scientific importance of evaluating siliceous additives in bio-lubricants for understanding lubricant behavior under load.
- Findings contribute to the knowledge base of vegetable greases, highlighting their potential for improved industrial applications through additive technology.
Keywords:
G′ and G″ modulesantiscuffing propertiesantiwear propertiesdynamic viscosityflow curvesmean square displacementvegetable lubricantsviscosity curvesyield pointMore Related Videos
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