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Ionic Liquids as Novel Lubricants and Additives for Diesel Engine Applications

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Abstract

The lubricating properties of two ionic liquids (ILs) with the same anion but different cations, one ammonium IL [C8H17]3NH.Tf2N and one imidazolium IL C10mim.Tf2N, were evaluated both in neat form and as oil additives. Experiments were conducted using a standardized reciprocating sliding test with a segment of a Cr-plated diesel engine piston ring against a gray cast iron flat specimen. The cast iron surface was prepared with simulated honing marks as on a typical internal combustion engine cylinder liner. The selected ILs were benchmarked against conventional hydrocarbon oils. Substantial friction and wear reductions, up to 55% and 34%, respectively, were achieved for the neat ILs compared to a fully formulated 15W40 engine oil. Adding 5 vol% ILs into mineral oil has demonstrated significant improvement in the lubricity. One blend even outperformed the 15W40 engine oil with 9% lower friction and 34% less wear. Lubrication regime modeling, worn surface morphology examination, and surface chemical analysis were conducted to help understand the lubricating mechanisms for ILs. Results suggest great potential for using ionic liquids as base lubricants or lubricant additives for diesel engine applications.

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Acknowledgments

Research sponsored by the Vehicle Technologies Program, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and the SHaRE User Facility, which is sponsored by the Division of Scientific User Facilities, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle LLC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, MS 6063, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831-6063, USA

    Jun Qu, Peter J. Blau & Harry M. Meyer III

  2. Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Sheng Dai

  3. Nuclear Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Huimin Luo

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  1. Jun Qu
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  2. Peter J. Blau
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  3. Sheng Dai
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  4. Huimin Luo
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Correspondence to Jun Qu.

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Qu, J., Blau, P.J., Dai, S. et al. Ionic Liquids as Novel Lubricants and Additives for Diesel Engine Applications. Tribol Lett 35, 181–189 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-009-9447-1

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