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Green Tribology: A Review of Biodegradable Lubricants—Properties, Current Status, and Future Improvement Trends

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Abstract

The use of lubricants to lower friction and wear in mechanical systems has been established for centuries. Growing concerns about the hazardous effects of conventional mineral lubricants on the environment have motivated scientists to search for biodegradable substitutes. This threat is particularly at a critical level in ecologically sensitive regions. Despite their lower eco-toxicity, the inherent shortcomings of biodegradable lubricants (e.g., high pour point, and poor oxidative and thermal stability, etc.) have prevented their full application in different industries. This review intends to (1) introduce various sources of biodegradable lubricants, their properties, and applications; (2) discuss the current state and most recent advances from the tribology perspective; and (3) discuss future trends regarding improving the tribological properties and overall performance of biodegradable lubricants.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. 2020R1A2C2004714). This research was also financially supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) and Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) through the International Cooperative R&D Program (Project ID: P0019808).

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  1. Mahdi Khadem and Won-Bin Kang have contributed equally to the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Production Development, DevPort AB, 41755, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Mahdi Khadem

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, South Korea

    Won-Bin Kang & Dae-Eun Kim

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Khadem, M., Kang, WB. & Kim, DE. Green Tribology: A Review of Biodegradable Lubricants—Properties, Current Status, and Future Improvement Trends. Int. J. of Precis. Eng. and Manuf.-Green Tech. 11, 565–583 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40684-023-00556-x

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