Performance evaluation of hazelnut oil with copper nanoparticles - a new entrant for sustainable lubrication

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the friction and wear performance of Hazelnut oil with copper (Cu) nano additives.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiments were performed on a pin-on-disc tribometer in boundary and mixed lubrication regimes. Copper nanoparticles were added in 0.5 and 1 Wt.% concentrations and corresponding Stribeck curves were generated with a base oil and with oil containing Cu nanoparticles. Surface analysis of aluminium 6061 pins was conducted using an optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Findings

The lubricant with 0.5 Wt.% Cu nanoparticles exhibited better results. An improvement of around 80 per cent in coefficient of friction and around 99 per cent in specific wear rate was observed. The film formation capability of the Cu nanoparticles led to an overall improvement in tribological properties of the base oil.

Originality

Experiments were performed to evaluate the tribological performance of a new lubricant (Hazelnut oil) using Cu nanoparticles. The results obtained herein suggest that Hazelnut oil has a great potential to replace the conventional mineral oils in the field of industrial lubrication.

Citation

Shafi, W.K., Raina, A. and Ul Haq, M.I. (2019), "Performance evaluation of hazelnut oil with copper nanoparticles - a new entrant for sustainable lubrication", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 71 No. 6, pp. 749-757. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-07-2018-0257