Purpose This paper aims to report the friction and wear characteristics of refined soybean oil (RSBO) blended with copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) as additives. Design/methodology/approach Four different concentrations 0.04, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 Wt.% of CuO nanoparticles were added with ZDDP in RSBO. The friction and wear characteristics of lubricants have been investigated on a pin-on-disc tribotester under loads of 120 and 180 N, with rotating speeds of 1,200 and 1,500 rpm in half hour of operating time. The dispersion stability of CuO nanoparticles has been analyzed using ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The wearout surface of pins has been examined by using a scanning electron microscope. Findings The results revealed that there is a reduction in the friction and wear by the addition of CuO nanoparticles and ZDDP in RSBO. Coefficient of friction increases at a high sliding speed for RSBO with ZDDP. From UV-Vis spectroscopy, it is observed that 100 ml of oleic acid surfactant per gram of CuO nanoparticles has stable dispersion in RSBO. Originality/value The addition of ZDDP and CuO nanoparticles in RSBO is more efficient to reduce the friction and wear in comparison to base oil. The optimum concentration of CuO nanoparticles in RSBO is 0.05 Wt.%.

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Purpose This paper aims to develop vegetable oil-based environmentally acceptable lubricants with a halogen-free ionic liquid (IL) as a substitute for petroleum-based lubricants. Design/methodology/approach The rheological and tribological characteristics of canola oil influenced by 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide as an additive along with surfactants have been experimentally investigated. The viscosities of prepared bio-ionic lubricants have been evaluated at a constant shear rate of 100 per second with a temperature ramp from 30°C to 100°C and also by varying shear rate from 1 to 103 per second at constant temperatures of 40°C and 100°C. The solubilization and absorbance of bio-ionic lubricants have been studied by using dynamic light scattering and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Friction and wear effects of bio-ionic lubricants have been evaluated using ball-on-disc tribotester at different speeds and loads. Findings The rheological properties of canola oil have been significantly improved with addition of IL. Minimum coefficient of friction and wear have been observed at an optimum concentration of 2 Wt.% of IL. Atomic force microscopy reveals that worn-out surface of ball lubricated with canola oil containing 2 Wt.% IL has smooth surface. Originality/value This study demonstrates that halogen-free has the potential to accommodate as an incipient class of EALs.

Dairy cattle and buffalo marketing in India is highly unorganized and their market prices are negotiated with hidden secret codes in livestock markets. In this context, the present study was carried out with the objective of identifying the pattern of sales of dairy animals and to ascertain the pricing of dairy cattle and buffaloes based on their age, breed and yield. Primary data were collected from 525 dairy cattle and buffalo farmers from seven randomly selected districts in the state of Tamil Nadu located in Southern India. The data were analysed through frequency, arithmetic mean, percentages and standard deviation. Majority of the dairy farmers sold their animals through middlemen and the rest sold their animals equally at their farm gate and shandies (livestock markets). The major reason for selling of animal was to meet out family expenditure and about one

Reinforced magnesium metal matrix nanocomposites (MMMNCs) have piqued the interest of scientific community in recent years. Friction stir processing (FSP) is a known process to achieve the highest level of secondary phase nanocomposites distribution in the base monolithic matrix. In this study, an attempt has been made to synthesize magnesium base AZ61A/n-TiC nanocomposites using FSP and the influence of tool rotational speed on the metallurgical, mechanical, and tribological behavior of the developed composites has been studied. Microstructural examination shows that as tool rotational speed increases, high plastic deformation occurs and heat is generated along with the concomitant shattering impact of rotation, which consequently develops larger grains in the stir zone. However, this also provides thrusts resulting in uniform distribution of the nanoparticles in the base matrix. Microhardness and ultimate tensile strength of the developed nanocomposite were found to be significantly improved when contrasted with the base metal. Lower wear rate was observed for the composite developed at 800 rpm along with the abrasive type of wear mechanism.