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Effect of silica nano-additive on flash point, pour point, rheological and tribological properties of lubricating engine oil: an experimental study

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Abstract

In this study, the rheological behavior and tribological properties of a nano-lubricant containing SiO2 nanoparticles in SAE40 engine oil are experimentally investigated. Nano-lubricant has been prepared with two-step method using an ultrasonic homogenizer. The rheological behavior of nano-lubricant checked out in all studied temperatures (ranging from 15˚C to 65˚C) and different solid volume fractions (ranging from 0 to 1%) and it shows non-Newtonian behavior (pseudoplastic). Also, an accurate correlation is presented for the prediction of nano-lubricant’s viscosity based on experimental data. A pin-on-disk tribometer was performed to investigate the tribological behavior of nano-lubricant. Results revealed that in φ = 0.1%, the wear rate and friction coefficient have been decreased by 50% and 18.46%, respectively, compared with the base oil. In addition, the nano-lubricant with optimum concentration and base oil was tested in the operational condition of diesel engines at the same condition and the abrasive elements of these engine oils were analyzed. Other important factors including pour point and flash point were also determined which showed that the addition of SiO2 nanoparticles to the base oil in φ = 0.1% will cause a 3.8% improvement in flash point compared with the base oil.

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Abbreviations

R:

Regression coefficient

Wr:

Wear rate (\({{\mathrm{mm}}^{3}}{\mathrm{N}^{-1} \mathrm{m}^{-3}}\))

\(\Delta \mathrm{m}\) :

Mass reduction

L:

Distance (m)

F:

Exerted load (N)

φ:

Solid volume fraction

τ:

Shear stress (Pa)

\(\dot{\gamma }\) :

Shear rate (\({s}^{-1}\))

ρ:

Density (\({\mathrm{g}} \, {{\mathrm{mm}}^{-3}}\))

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

SAE:

Society of automotive engineers

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the Science and Technology Park of Semnan University, which provided the conditions for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Semnan University, 35131-19111, Semnan, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Kashefi & Seyfolah Saedodin

  2. School of Engineering, Damghan University, 36716-41167, Damghan, Iran

    Seyed Hadi Rostamian

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  1. Mohammad Hossein Kashefi
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  2. Seyfolah Saedodin
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  3. Seyed Hadi Rostamian
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Correspondence to Seyfolah Saedodin or Seyed Hadi Rostamian.

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Kashefi, M.H., Saedodin, S. & Rostamian, S.H. Effect of silica nano-additive on flash point, pour point, rheological and tribological properties of lubricating engine oil: an experimental study. J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 4073–4086 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-10812-4

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