Dispersion stability and wear properties of nano-CeO₂ as lubricating oil additives for engines

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the dispersion stability and the wear properties of lubricating oil blends added with modified nanometer cerium oxide (CeO₂) at high temperature.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, CeO₂ was self-made and it was chemically modified. The dispersion stability of CeO₂ in lubricating oil was studied. And the wear test of lubricating oil blends added with modified CeO₂ was carried out at high temperature.

Findings

The results showed that CeO₂ was successfully modified by oleic acid and stearic acid. The dispersion stability of modified CeO₂ in lubricating oil was improved. Adding modified nano-CeO₂ with the concentration less than 50 ppm into the lubricating oil can improve the wear properties of friction pairs in different extent. With the increase of the amount of CeO₂, the wear properties increased first and then decreased. The lubricating oil blend added with 25 ppm CeO₂ has the best wear properties.

Originality/value

The raw material CeO₂ in this paper is self-made and its shape and size are well controlled. Research on the addition of nano-CeO₂ to the engine low viscosity finished lubricants is lacking. It is of great significance to study the dispersion stability and tribological properties of nano-lubricants under the new background of low viscosity of lubricating oil and close to the real engine working conditions. It has certain significance to promote the development of nano-lubricants for engines.

Citation

Kuang, X., Yin, B., Wang, J., Jia, H. and Xu, B. (2022), "Dispersion stability and wear properties of nano-CeO₂ as lubricating oil additives for engines", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 74 No. 7, pp. 813-819. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-12-2021-0464