Abstract
As the thickener for fluorine greases, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder performs insufficient load-carrying capacity and limited assistance for friction reduction and wear resistance in the boundary lubrication regime. The present work aims to explore novel nanoparticles with higher mechanical strength as an alternative to PTFE. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were surface modified by grafting (or partially adsorbing) fluoropolymer chains and introduced into perfluoropolyether PFPE base oil. The obtained polyhexafuorobutyl methacrylate grafted CNC (CNC-g-PHFMA) powder exhibited good compatibility with the PFPE oil. The friction test and wear analysis showed that CNC-g-PHFMA formed a more intensive and stable tribo-film than PTFE on the sliding surface, resulting in more effective friction reduction (11%) and wear resistance (19%). This study demonstrates that fluoropolymer-grafted CNCs have a good application prospect in fluorine greases.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets generated or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Awang NW, Ramasamy D, Kadirgama K, Najafi G, Sidik NAC (2019) Study on friction and wear of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) nanoparticle as lubricating additive in engine oil. Int J Heat Mass Transfer 131:1196–1204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2018.11.128
Bai YY, Zhang CY, Yu QL, Zhang JY, Zhang M, Cai MR, Weng LJ, Liang YM, Zhou F, Liu WM (2021) Supramolecular PFPE gel lubricant with anti-creep capability under irradiation conditions at high vacuum. Chem Eng J 409:128120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.128120
Bair S, Vergne P, Marchetti M (2002) The effect of shear-thinning on film thickness for space lubricants. Tribol Trans 45:330–333. https://doi.org/10.1080/10402000208982557
Charreau H, Cavallo E, Foresti ML (2020) Patents involving nanocellulose: analysis of their evolution since 2010. Carbohydr Polym 237:116039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116039
Chen JG (2012) Tribological properties of polytetrafluoroethylene as additive in titanium complex grease. Ind Lubr Tribol 64:98–103. https://doi.org/10.1108/00368791211208705
Chen JY, Mao LC, Qi HX, Xu DZ, Huang HY, Liu MY, Wen YQ, Deng FJ, Zhang XY, Wei Y (2020) Preparation of fluorescent cellulose nanocrystal polymer composites with thermo-responsiveness through light-induced ATRP. Cellulose 27:743–753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02845-8
Delgado-Canto MA, Fernández-Silva SD, Roman C, García-Morales M (2020) On the electro-active control of nanocellulose-based functional biolubricants. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 12:46490–46500. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c12244
Desanker M, Johnson B, Seyam AM, Chung YW, Bazzi HS, Delferro M, Marks TJ, Wang QJ (2016) Oil-soluble silver-organic molecule for in situ deposition of lubricious metallic silver at high temperatures. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 8:13637–13645. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b01597
Girardeaux C, Pireaux J (1996) Analysis of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) by XPS. Surf Sci Spectra 4:138–141. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.1247814
Guo JL, Wu PX, Zeng C, Wu W, Zhao XY, Liu GQ, Zhou F, Liu WM (2022) Fluoropolymer grafted Ti3C2TX MXene as an efficient lubricant additive for fluorine-containing lubricating oil. Tribol Int 170:107500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2022.107500
Guo YJ, Liu WQ (2016) Synthesis and surface properties of a new fluorinated acrylic diblock copolymer via AGET ATRP. Polym Sci Ser B 58:313–320. https://doi.org/10.1134/s1560090416030064
Hamrock BJ, Dowson D (1976) Isothermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contacts: Part III-fully flooded results. J Lub Tech 99:264–275. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3453074
Huang GW, Yu QL, Ma ZF, Cai MR, Zhou F, Liu WM (2017) Fluorinated candle soot as the lubricant additive of perfluoropolyether. Tribol Lett 65:28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-017-0812-1
Hussain H, Tan BH, Gudipati CS, Xaio Y, Liu Y, Davis TP, He CB (2008) Synthesis and characterization of organic/inorganic hybrid star polymers of 2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate and octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane nano-cage made via atom transfer radical polymerization. J Polym Sci Part a Polym Chem 46:7287–7298. https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.23033
Ivanov MG, Pavlyshko SV, Ivanov DM, Petrov I, Shenderova O (2010) Synergistic compositions of colloidal nanodiamond as lubricant-additive. J Vac Sci TechNol B 28:869. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.3478245
Kargarzadeh H, Mariano M, Gopakumar D, Ahmad I, Thomas S, Dufresne A, Huang J, Lin N (2018) Advances in cellulose nanomaterials. Cellulose 25:2151–2189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-1723-5
Kassab Z, Abdellaoui Y, Salim MH, Bouhfid R, Qaiss AEK, Achaby ME (2020) Micro-and nano-celluloses derived from hemp stalks and their effect as polymer reinforcing materials. Carbohydr Polym 245:116506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116506
Kim UJ, Kuga S, Wada M, Okano T, Kondo T (2000) Periodate oxidation of crystalline cellulose. Biomacromol 1:488–492. https://doi.org/10.1021/bm0000337
Kong S, Wang JB, Hu WJ, Li JS (2020) Effects of thickness and particle size on tribological properties of graphene as lubricant additive. Tribol Lett 68:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-020-01351-4
Kumar N, Saini V, Bijwe J (2020) Performance properties of lithium greases with PTFE particles as additive: controlling parameter-size or shape? Tribol Int 148:106302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2020.106302
Li K, Zhang X, Du C, Yang JW, Wu BL, Guo ZW, Dong CL, Lin N, Yuan CQ (2019) Friction reduction and viscosity modification of cellulose nanocrystals as biolubricant additives in polyalphaolefin oil. Carbohydr Polym 220:228–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.05.072
Lince JR (2020) Effective application of solid lubricants in spacecraft mechanisms. Lubricants 8:74. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants8070074
Ma C, Wang H, Zhang HQ, Liu XX, Chen HL (2019) Preparation and properties of fluorinated poly(ethyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate). Polym Sci Ser B 61:163–169. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1560090419020076
Morandi G, Heath L, Thielemans W (2009) Cellulose nanocrystals grafted with polystyrene chains through surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). Langmuir 25:8280–8286. https://doi.org/10.1021/la900452a
Nehme GN (2016) Friction and wear reductions in fluorinated plain and fully formulated oils through enhanced heating time using moderate loading under boundary lubrication conditions. Lubr Sci 28:281–298. https://doi.org/10.1002/ls.1331
Nian JY, Chen LW, Guo ZG, Liu WM (2017) Computational investigation of the lubrication behaviors of dioxides and disulfides of molybdenum and tungsten in vacuum. Friction 5:23–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-016-0128-4
Núñez N, Martín-Alfonso JE, Valencia C, Sánchez MC, Franco JM (2012) Rheology of new green lubricating grease formulations containing cellulose pulp and its methylated derivative as thickener agents. Ind Crop Prod 37:500–507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2011.07.027
Oliveira JCD, Rigolet S, Marichal C, Roucoules V, Laborie M-P (2020) Grafting Diels-Alder moieties on cellulose nanocrystals through carbamation. Carbohydr Polym 250:116966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116966
Pownraj C, Valan Arasu A (2020) Effect of dispersing single and hybrid nanoparticles on tribological, thermo-physical, and stability characteristics of lubricants: a review. J Therm Anal Calorim 143:1773–1809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-09837-y
Qu MN, Yao YL, He JM, Ma XR, Feng J, Liu SS, Hou LG, Liu XR (2017) Tribological study of polytetrafluoroethylene lubricant additives filled with Cu microparticles or SiO2 nanoparticles. Tribol Int 110:57–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2017.02.010
Rawat SS, Harsha AP, Deepak AP (2019) Tribological performance of paraffin grease with silica nanoparticles as an additive. Appl Nanosci 9:305–315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-018-0911-9
Ren J, Gong KL, Zhao GQ, Lou WJ, Wu XH, Wang XB (2021) Investigation of the tribological performances of graphene and WS2 nanosheets as additives for perfluoroalkylpolyethers under simulated space environment. Tribol Lett 69:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-021-01412-2
Rocha PGLD, Oliveira MGLD, Lemos PVF, Costa LADS, Rocha LPGD, Júnior ARDA, Silva JBAD (2022) Tribological performances of cellulose nanocrystals in water-based lubricating fluid. J Appl Polym Sci 139:52167. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.52167
Shariatzadeh M, Grecov D (2019) Aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals as water-based lubricants. Cellulose 26:4665–4677. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02398-w
Sharma V, Timmons R, Erdemir A, Aswath PB (2017) Plasma-functionalized polytetrafluoroethylene nanoparticles for improved wear in lubricated contact. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 9:25631–25641. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b06453
Sun JF, Li AS, Su FH (2019) Excellent lubricating ability of functionalization graphene dispersed in perfluoropolyether for titanium alloy. ACS Appl Nano Mater 2:1391–1401. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.8b02282
Tang W, Liu R, Lu XY, Zhang SG, Liu SY (2018) Tribological behavior of lamellar molybdenum trioxide as a lubricant additive. Materials 11:2427. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11122427
Tao H, Lavoine N, Jiang F, Tang J, Lin N (2020) Reducing end modification on cellulose nanocrystals: strategy, characterization, applications and challenges. Nanoscale Horiz 5:607–627. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0nh00016g
Wang SN, Li K, Xia T, Lan P, Xu H, Lin N (2022) Chemical grafting fluoropolymer on cellulose nanocrystals and its rheological modification to perfluoropolyether oil. Carbohydr Polym 276:118802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118802
Wu XH, Zhao GQ, Zhao Q, Gong KL, Wang XB, Liu WM, Liu WS (2016) Investigating the tribological performance of nanosized MoS2 on graphene dispersion in perfluoropolyether under high vacuum. RSC Adv 6:98606–98610. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra22863a
Wu BL, Zhu G, Dufresne A, Lin N (2019) Fluorescent aerogels based on chemical crosslinking between nanocellulose and carbon dots for optical sensor. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 11:16048–16058. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b02754
Xia T, Huang Y, Lan P, Lan LH, Lin N (2019) Physical modification of cellulose nanocrystals with a synthesized triblock copolymer and rheological thickening in silicone oil/grease. Biomacromol 20:4457–4465. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01186
Yakubov GE, Zhong L, Li M, Boehm MW, Xie F, Beattie DA, Halley PJ, Stokes JR (2015) Lubrication of starch in ionic liquid-water mixtures: soluble carbohydrate polymers form a boundary film on hydrophobic surfaces. Carbohydr Polym 133:507–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.06.087
Yin Y, Tian X, Jiang X, Wang H, Gao W (2016) Modification of cellulose nanocrystal via SI-ATRP of styrene and the mechanism of its reinforcement of polymethylmethacrylate. Carbohydr Polym 142:206–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.01.014
Zakani B, Salem H, Entezami S, Sedaghat A, Grecov D (2022) Effect of particle concentration on lubrication performance of cellulose nanocrystalline (CNC) water-based lubricants: mixed lubrication regime. Cellulose 29:3963–3984. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04510-z
Zeng QF (2019) Superlow friction and diffusion behaviors of a steel-related system in the presence of nano lubricant additive in PFPE oil. J Adhes Sci Technol 33:1001–1018. https://doi.org/10.1080/01694243.2019.1579433
Zhang YH, Liu G, Yao X, Gao SM, Xie JW, Xu H, Lin N (2018) Electrochemical chiral sensor based on cellulose nanocrystals and multiwall carbon nanotubes for discrimination of tryptophan enantiomers. Cellulose 25:3861–3871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-1816-1
Zhang Y, Biboulet N, Venner CH, Lubrecht AA (2020) Prediction of the stribeck curve under full-film elastohydrodynamic lubrication. Tribol Int. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2019.01.028
Zhou JH, Li YN, Li H, Yao HT (2019) Cellulose nanocrystals/fluorinated polyacrylate soap-free emulsion prepared via RAFT-assisted Pickering emulsion polymerization. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 177:321–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.02.005
Zhu LL, Dong J, Zeng QF (2021) High temperature solid/liquid lubrication behaviours of DLC films. Lubr Sci 33:229–245. https://doi.org/10.1002/ls.1540
Zhu G, Chen ZY, Wu BL, Lin N (2019) Dual-enhancement effect of electrostatic adsorption and chemical crosslinking for nanocellulose-based aerogels. Ind Crop Prod 139:111580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111580
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51975437) and the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion (SGC) (GZ 1576).
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51975437) and the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion (SGC) (GZ 1576).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
YG: Investigation, Writing – original draft. NL: Conceptualization. CD: Methodology. TA: Funding acquisition. HF: Resources. CY: Project administration. KL: Supervision, Funding acquisition, Writing – review & editing.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Conflict of interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Consent for publication
This manuscript is the authors’ original work and has not been published nor submitted simultaneously elsewhere. All authors have checked the manuscript and have agreed to the submission.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Ge, Y., Lin, N., Du, C. et al. Improved boundary lubrication of perfluoropolyether using fluoropolymer-grafted cellulose nanocrystal. Cellulose 30, 3757–3771 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05120-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05120-z