The Use of D-optimal Design for Modeling and Analyzing the Tribological Characteristics of Journal Bearing Materials Lubricated by Nano-Based Biolubricants

Response surface methodology (RSM) based on a D-optimal design was employed to investigate the tribological characteristics of journal bearing materials such as brass, bronze, and copper lubricated by a biolubricant, chemically modified rapeseed oil (CMRO). The wear and friction performance were observed for the bearing materials tested with TiO₂, WS₂, and CuO nanoadditives dispersed in the CMRO. The tests were performed by selecting sliding speed and load as numerical factors and nano-based biolubricant/bearing materials as the categorical factor to evaluate the tribological characteristics such as the coefficient of friction (COF) and specific wear rate. The results showed that RSM based on a D-optimal design was instrumental in the selection of suitable journal bearing materials for a typical system, especially one lubricated by nano-based biolubricant. At a sliding speed of 2.0 m/s and load of 100 N, the bronze bearing material with CMRO containing CuO nanoparticles had the lowest COF and wear rate. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of the worn bearing surfaces showed that the bronze bearing material lubricated with CMRO containing CuO nanoadditive is smoother than copper/brass bearing material.     

Tribological Characteristics of Calophyllum inophyllum–Based TMP (Trimethylolpropane) Ester as Energy-Saving and Biodegradable Lubricant

The purpose of this research is an experimental study of Calophyllum inophyllum (CI)-based trymethylolpropane (TMP) ester as an energy-saving and biodegradable lubricant and compare it with commercial lubricant and paraffin mineral oil using a four-ball tribometer. CI-based TMP ester is a renewable lubricant that is nonedible, biodegradable, and nontoxic and has net zero greenhouse gases. The TMP ester was produced from CI oil, which has high lubricity properties such as higher density, higher viscosity at both 40°C and 100°C and higher viscosity index (VI). Experiments were conducted during 3,600 s with constant load of 40 kg and constant sliding speed of 1,200 rpm at temperatures of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100°C for all three types of lubricant. The results show that CI TMP ester had the lowest coefficient of friction (COF) as well as lower consumption of energy at all test temperatures, but the worn surface roughness average (R_a) and wear scar diameter were higher compared to paraffin mineral oil and commercial lubricant. Before 80°C, CI TMP ester actually has a higher flash temperature parameter (FTP) than paraffin mineral oil and as the temperature increases, the FTP of TMP ester decreases. The worn surfaces of the stationary balls were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and results show that CI TMP ester has the highest wear compared to paraffin mineral oil and lowest wear compared to commercial lubricant. However, CI TMP ester is environmentally desired, competitive to commercial lubricant, and its use should be encouraged.     

棕榈油甲酯制备生物润滑油三羟甲基丙烷脂肪酸三酯的工艺研究

以棕榈油脂肪酸甲酯(fatty acid methyl ester,FAME)和三羟甲基丙烷(trimethylolpropane,TMP)为原料,经酯交换反应制备可用作生物润滑油基础油的三羟甲基丙烷脂肪酸三酯(trimethylolpropane fatty acidtiester,TFATE)。通过比较FAME的转化率和TFATE在反应混合物中的含量,探讨了催化剂种类、催化剂用量、反应时间、反应温度、反应物物质的量比及真空度对反应的影响。最佳合成条件为:催化剂为三羟甲基丙烷钾(Trimethylolpropane mono potassium salt,TMP-K),催化剂添加量为TMP-K与TMP物质的量比0.02∶1,反应时间1 h,反应温度128℃,FAME与TMP物质的量比4∶1,反应压力为300 Pa,在此条件下,脂肪酸甲酯的转化率为91.78%,反应混合物中TFATE质量分数为90.11%。经分子蒸馏分离纯化后终产品TFATE质量分数为97.02%。     

Chemical modification of vegetable oils for the production of biolubricants using trimethylolpropane: A review

Lubricating oil producers are shifting attention toward the use of renewable and biodegradable energy sources for the production of lubricating oils. This is necessitated by the depleting mineral based energy sources and the negative impact of continuous usage of engine oils from fossil sources. Biomass sources are cheap, environmentally friendly, and offer a good alternative to the conventional mineral oil sources. Biolubricants provide lubricity for two moving-surfaces in contact. They are essential for heat transfers, power transmissions, lubrication, and corrosion inhibition in machinery. However, the use of biolubricating oils are associated with challenges such as poorer low temperature properties and poor oxidative stability during usage. Chemical modification of vegetable oils with polyols has been explored as a potential source for biolubricant synthesis and production. This paper provides a concise review of the use of trimethylolpropane (TMP) as the polyol used for chemically-modified biolubricants using vegetable oils as base stocks. TMP improves the physicochemical properties of biolubricants and enhances the thermo-oxidative stability of the biolubricants.     

Determination of Oxidation of Methyl Ricinoleates

Ricinoleate esters have desirable properties as biolubricants, but their oxidative stability has been questioned. To systematically study the stability of ricinoleate ester and its derivative, methyl esters of castor oil were prepared and methyl ricinoleate was isolated by solvent partitioning. Methyl 12‐acetyl ricinoleate was synthesized from the methyl ricinoleate by interesterification with excess methyl acetate and was then purified by solvent partitioning. The rates of oxidation of methyl linoleate, methyl oleate and the two ricinoleate esters were measured by oxidation of lipid dispersed on glass beads under three temperatures (40–80 °C). The relative amounts of the unoxidized methyl esters were determined periodically by gas chromatography, and the peroxide value of the oils was also determined. The oxidation rates were determined as the peroxide value increase rate, as well as the ester disappearance rate, and the stability of the various esters was compared. Overall, methyl ricinoleate was much more oxidatively stable than methyl oleate at mildly elevated temperatures, and the acetylation of the hydroxyl group on the 12th carbon decreased the stability.     

Epoxidation of vegetable oils under microwave irradiation

This paper presents a study of the epoxidation of vegetable oil in an isothermal batch reactor system equipped with microwave or conventional heating. The epoxidation reaction was performed by peroxycarboxylic acid formed in situ from carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide. It was demonstrated that microwave irradiation can accelerate the epoxidation velocity when the continuous phase is aqueous, which is not transparent to microwave. This tendency was observed for peroxyacetic and peroxypropionic acids.     

气相色谱法分析生物润滑油三羟甲基丙烷脂肪酸三酯的研究

建立了高温气相色谱快速分析棕榈油脂肪酸甲酯(fatty acid methyl ester,FAME)酯交换反应样品中三羟甲基丙烷脂肪酸三酯(trimethylolpropane fatty acid trimester,TFATE)的方法。采用DB-1ht型毛细管柱(15 m×250μm×0.1μm),柱温条件为:起始温度50℃,以50℃/min升至220℃,以30℃/min升至290℃,以40℃/min升至330℃保留2 min,以30℃/min升至370℃保留3 min;载气为高纯氮气,进样口380℃,FID检测器400℃,分流比20∶1,进样量为1μL。制备了TFATE的标准样品,并验证了标准样品的纯度,建立了TFATE的标准曲线,在质量浓度范围0.5～20.0 mg/mL内峰面积与被测物质量浓度线性关系良好。加样回收试验表明,平均加样回收率在96.64%～98.06%之间,RSD在0.20%～0.45%之间,该方法有较好的精密度和重复性。     

Tribological Analysis of a Hydrodynamic Journal Bearing under the Influence of Synthetic and Biolubricants

This study investigated the tribological characteristics of journal bearings exclusively for automotive applications under the influence of a synthetic lubricant (SAE20W40) and chemically modified rapeseed oil (CMRO) as a biolubricant, dispersed with TiO₂, WS₂, and CuO nanoparticles used as antiwear additive. The effects of synthetic and nanobased biolubricants on the tribological behavior of the hydrodynamic journal bearing were examined using a journal bearing test rig by measuring the coefficient of friction, oil film thickness, and wear under a load of 10 kN and a speed of 3,000 rpm. The test results show that CuO nanoadditives that are added to the biolubricant exhibit outstanding wear and friction reduction behavior, better than that with synthetic lubricants as well as other nanobased biolubricants. The inclusion of CuO nanoparticles in the biolubricant decreased the coefficient of friction by 27% and wear by about 47% compared to a synthetic lubricant. Additionally, investigations were performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the surface morphology and surface roughness behavior of the tested bearing surfaces.