Lubricity Performance Evaluation of Organic Polymer as Additives Invegetable Oil Understeel Materials

Abstract

The tribological effect of lubricating oil on sliding contact as well as its rheological behaviour were investigated. Using a high frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) tribometer tester, the study applied Eichhornia Crassipes carboxymethyl cellulose (EC-CMC) polymer as an organic additive in corn oil (CO) and sunflower oil (SFO). Base CO and SFO samples were blended with four samples of EC-CMC concentration (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) by volume for the study of the viscosity improver index. Rheological studies on the polymer concentrations show good results with 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%, but indicated optimal on 1% EC-CMC especially from temperature beyond 100 °C for the two selected lubricants. Under friction and wear analysis, the test was conducted using 1wt% EC-CMC. The base lubricants CO and SFO yielded friction coefficient and wear scar diameter of 0.087, 11.2 *10-6 mm3/N/m and 0.080, 10.5 * 10-6 mm3/N/m, respectively. During the testing, the use of 1% EC-CMC blended SFO yielded lower coefficient of friction than CO both at base state and inclusion with additive. This produced COF reduction by 22.5% and 13.8% for EC-CMC + SFO and EC-CMC + CO, respectively, but gives better reduction under SAE 5W 30. The analysis concluded that application of 1% concentration of EC-CMC in base oil lubricant for both SFO and CO significantly enhanced the properties. The utilization of this sustainable product certainly will contribute to solving global pollution challenges.