Impact of Ionic Liquid Additives and Inorganic Fullerene-Like Tungsten Disulfide on Friction and Wear under Aqueous Environments

Abstract

Aqueous lubricants are gaining attention due to significant advantages such as being environmentally friendly, tunable, and thermally stable. The oil and gas industry can use such additives to utilize in water-based fluids for applications where small sliding velocities and large lateral forces require enhanced lubrication. This investigation aims to compare the effects of two different additives: (i) inorganic fullerene-like tungsten disulfide (IF-WS2) and (ii) an alkanolamine ionic liquid denoted as AA-IL. Both additives were paired with three different base fluids, deionized water (DIW), aqueous NaCl, and aqueous CaCl2, to measure the impact on fluids commonly utilized in the field. The addition of IF-WS2 to all three solutions resulted in a 30–60% decrease in the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear. Surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the formation of a tribofilm (tungsten oxide layer) is primarily responsible for tribological improvements. The AA-IL did not show evidence of any chemical interaction. Instead, a physically bonded film of the AA-IL on the steel surface enabled the improved COF (40–50% reduction) and wear response. Both additives are effective in very small amounts and provide excellent wear and friction reduction properties.

Tribological and Rheological Study of Thixotropic Gels of 2D Nanoparticles

“…13,14 Nano lubricants' tribological behavior is also affected by their viscosity, which rises as the concentration of nanoparticles rises. 15 Various kinds of nanoparticles that have been used as additives in base lubricant can be categorized as metals, 9,16 metallic oxides, 8,17 nonmetallic oxides, 13,18 sulfides, 19,20 fullerene, 21,22 and other carbon materials. 23−26 More specifically, 2D layered-structured materials have attracted attention as lubrication nanoadditives because of their excellent tribological characteristics.…”

“…Moreover, the smaller the particle, the more likely it is to interact with the friction pair and reduce the coefficient of friction (CoF) and wear. , Nano lubricants’ tribological behavior is also affected by their viscosity, which rises as the concentration of nanoparticles rises . Various kinds of nanoparticles that have been used as additives in base lubricant can be categorized as metals, , metallic oxides, , nonmetallic oxides, , sulfides, , fullerene, , and other carbon materials. − More specifically, 2D layered-structured materials have attracted attention as lubrication nanoadditives because of their excellent tribological characteristics. The typical examples of such 2D materials are graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, black phosphorus, natural hydrate clay minerals (i.e., layered vermiculite), silicene, and MXenes. , For lubricity in industrial applications, e.g., drilling fluids, suspensions containing organic and inorganic nanoparticles ranging in diameter from 1 to 100 nm in the base fluids, such as water, oil, paraffin, glycerol, etc., are usually investigated. , The incorporation of these particles into the base fluid alters its rheology and lubricity .…”

Study on the Superlubricity Behavior of Ions under External Electric Fields at Steel Interfaces

“…ILs are excellent lubricants and additives in surface science and engineering. − The ability of ILs as lubricants was initially reported by Liu et al. , Since then, research on ILs as lubricants and additives has steadily increased. Xie’s group investigated the ILs as lubricants in porous copper/graphite composites.…”