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Enhancing boundary friction and wear reduction through adsorption control in protic ionic liquid and carbon mixtures

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Abstract

This study addresses the challenge of enhancing lubrication performance by exploring the potential of a protic ionic liquid (IL), [Oley][Oleic], in conjunction with carbon nanotube (CNT) mixtures. The primary objective is to determine the optimal CNT concentration that achieves effective lubrication for the IL-based lubricant. Through experimental investigation, notable reductions of 19.8 % in friction and 67.2% in wear are demonstrated when [Oley][Oleic] is blended with the optimum CNT concentration at 0.10 wt%. This study employs a friction-derived adsorption model to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of friction. The results indicate that the addition of CNTs leads to a larger adsorption surface coverage area of the lubricant molecules, resulting in decreased friction and wear. Synergistic attractive cooperative interactions among the IL molecules in the presence of CNTs are identified as a key factor in enhancing adsorption efficiency. These findings provide insights into the interaction between [Oley][Oleic] and CNTs when sheared, offering a predictive framework for understanding friction and wear behaviour specific to IL-based lubricants. By presenting a solution for reducing friction and wear, this study contributes to the development of energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly lubrication practices, opening avenues for further advancements in the field of lubrication and promoting sustainable tribological solutions for diverse applications.

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Acknowledgements

This research project received financial support from both Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) with the reference number FRGS/1/2023/TK10/UTM/02/3 and UTM Fundamental Research Grant with the reference number Q.J130000.3851.22H02 (PY/2022/00419).

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Conception: WWFC,MIHZ; Experimental design: CTL, MBL; Carrying out measurements: NAAMA, Chiew Tin Lee, Mei Bao Lee, Izzati Halid; Formal analysis and investigation: Nur Aisya Affrina Mohamed Ariffin, Izzati Halid, William Woei Fong Chong, Hedong Zhang; Writing—original draft preparation: Nur Aisya Affrina Mohamed Ariffin, William Woei Fong Chong; Writing—review and editing: Siti Hartini Hamdan, Muhammad Izzal Ismail, Hedong Zhang; Funding acquisition: William Woei Fong Chong; Resources: Siti Hartini Hamdan, William Woei Fong Chong; Supervision: Siti Hartini Hamdan, William Woei Fong Chong

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Correspondence to Nur Aisya Affrina Mohamed Ariffin or William Woei Fong Chong.

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Mohamed Ariffin, N.A.A., Lee, C.T., Lee, M.B. et al. Enhancing boundary friction and wear reduction through adsorption control in protic ionic liquid and carbon mixtures. J Mater Sci 59, 794–809 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-023-09257-x

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