Formulation and tribological performance of engine oil blended with various non‐edible vegetable oils

Abstract

This present study formulated eco‐friendly lubricants by combining non‐edible vegetable oils with a mineral oil and investigated their efficacy on the friction and wear characteristics of four AISI 52100 chrome steel balls. Multiple formulations containing varying combinations of 0 to 100 vol% of a mineral oil SAE 15W40 (S100), castor oil (C100), and jatropha oil (J100) were prepared using the sonification technique in an ultrasonic homogeniser. A fourier transform spectrometer (FTIR) was then used to investigate the molecular vibrations of each formulation. A tribological test was also performed with a four‐ball tribometer according to ASTM D4172‐94 engineering standards. Finally, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscope (EDX) was used to examine surface morphologies. The 80% S100, 10% C100, and 10% J100 (S80C10J10) formulation provided excellent tribological performance as it contained fatty acids composed of carbohydrates and carbonyl groups, particularly polysaccharides and glycerols.

Prediction of Lubrication Performances of Vegetable Oils by Genetic Functional Approximation Algorithm

“…Vegetable-based oil, derived from renewable resources, is environmentally friendly with high biodegradability, providing excellent lubrication and extending the lifespan of machinery and equipment. Therefore, vegetable-based oil holds a distinct advantage in the lubricant field and deserves further research and development [6][7][8][9].…”