Purpose
The screening of lube oil performance prior to field trials is the most significant for the formulation of novel lubricants. This paper aims to investigate the efficacy of trimethylolpropane trioleate oil (TMPTO) based lubricants with different additives.
Design/methodology/approach
In this endeavor, initially five lubricating blends along-with TMPTO based oil with variable additives were evaluated for their tribological performances using ASTM standards. Out of these, the top three best-performing oils were further investigated for possible physical or chemical synergies among lube oils, additives and ball surface using SEM. The molecule structures of TMPTO based lube oils were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
Findings
The wear preventive and extreme pressure characteristics of different TMPTO based samples were evaluated and compared for compatibility and synergy of additives. Morphological analysis of SEM images was used to understand the wear behavior of the worn surfaces.
Practical implications
Further investigation of TMPTO oil on its oxidation stability at high temperature and pressure to make it technologically competitive and commercially viable metal-working lubricant is suggested.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the tribo-effects of TMPTO to be rendered as a suitable lubricant for metal-cutting operations. The surface morphology of the worn-out surface significantly demonstrates the effect of loading conditions.
Frictional heating leads to sparking and excessive wear of components in engineering applications. Until now, copper-beryllium alloys have been used extensively in frictional contacts where nonsparking ability is desired. However, copper-beryllium creates an inhalation hazard when there is exposure to the dust or fumes from beryllium metal, metal oxides. Besides nonsparking ability, an environmentally friendly alternate material having equally good electrical and tribo-mechanical properties needs to be developed. In achieving the objective of this article, tribological properties of copper titanium alloy as an alternative under dry sliding contact were investigated and compared. Experiments were conducted on copper-titanium alloy having 2 % and 4.2 % titanium sliding against an EN-31 disk using a pin-on-disk apparatus. Taguchi-based design of experiments was used to find out significance of parameters and their effect on friction coefficient and wear rate. The microstructure was studied for distribution of titanium powder in alloy and its effect on grain distribution vis-à-vis tribo-properties using scanning electron microscopy analysis. It was found that the coefficient of friction decreases as titanium concentration and velocity increase. Titanium concentration has a significant effect on reducing wear. Results are indicative for potential use of copper-titanium alloy instead of copper-beryllium alloy. Because copper-titanium is a more recent material, its tribological properties are yet to be researched. Apparently, hardly any literature is available exclusively in this type of application.
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