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Synthesis and effect of nanogrease on tribological properties

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Abstract

This study aims to improve the lubrication performance of grease by letting Tin (Sn) nanoparticles dispersed in lithium grease, and tests the tribological properties of nanogrease. We use the chemical reduction method to prepare Sn nanoparticles of different particle sizes. After applying Sn nanogrease on the self-made pin-on-disk tribology tester that meets ASTM G99 standards, this study explores the properties of wear resistance and friction decreases of nanogrease with nanparticles of different particle sizes, concentrations and loads. Experimental results show that adding Sn nanoparticles to lithium grease can enhance wear resistance and reduce the coefficient of friction. Under the condition that Sn nanoparticles are in smaller particle size and at a concentration of 1.0 wt.%, friction and wear can both be reduced significantly. Compared to pure lithium base grease, when the grease has loads of 39.2 N and 49 N respectively, the friction coefficients reduce from 0.05434 to 0.01985 and from 0.05635 to 0.02155, with reduction rates at around 63.5% and 61.8%, respectively. Moreover, wear scar diameters decrease from 0.7651 mm to 0.3145 mm and from 0.8263 mm to 0.3658 mm, with reduction rates at around 58.9% and 55.7%, respectively. Additionally, through SEM photographs, this study proves that Sn nanoparticles produce filling and sedimentary effects on wear surfaces.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Manufacturing Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan

    Ho Chang & Jin-De Luo

  2. Department of Vehicle Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan

    Mu-Jung Kao

  3. Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, 31040, Taiwan

    Chou-Wei Lan

Authors
  1. Ho Chang
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  2. Mu-Jung Kao
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  3. Jin-De Luo
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  4. Chou-Wei Lan
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Correspondence to Ho Chang.

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Chang, H., Kao, MJ., Luo, JD. et al. Synthesis and effect of nanogrease on tribological properties. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. 16, 1311–1316 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-015-0171-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-015-0171-5

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