Recent Progress in Electrically Conductive and Thermally Conductive Lubricants: A Critical Review

Abstract

Electrically as well as thermally conductive lubricants have drawn considerable attention and are an emerging research topic because they have unique advantages and advanced lubrication performance over traditional lubricants such as corrosion protection and efficient heat dissipation. For instance, some components of electric vehicles (EVs) such as bearings, seals, pads and gears require conductive lubricants to avoid premature failure and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems due to induced shaft voltages and currents. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in conductive lubricants. The review focuses on the important aspects to enhance the thermal and electrical conductivities as well as the tribological behavior (COF, and wear rate) of conductive solid, semisolid, and liquid lubricants. The lubricants that are electrically and thermally conductive with superior tribological performances have been identified through extensive literature review and presented in tabular form. This review summarizes the effect of various additives used to improve the conductive properties of the lubricants, such as polyalphaolefin oil, hydraulic oil, paraffin oil, and mineral oil. Furthermore, the review discusses the lubricating mechanism of conductive solid and liquid lubricants to facilitate a deeper understanding. Finally, the future perspectives and the research directions for conductive lubricants are also addressed.

Lubrication subjected to effects of electric and magnetic fields: recent research progress and a generalized MEMT-field Reynolds equation

“…Beyer et al (2019) emphasized the importance of the new lubricant requirements for electrical properties, copper corrosivity, heat transfer ability, and material compatibility, when the lubricant is in contact with electric motors. A recent review summarized and presented, in tabular forms, of the tribological performances of common electrically and thermally conductive lubricants (Bustami et al, 2023).…”

Review of Graphene-Based Materials for Tribological Engineering Applications

“…As the electrical motor and the gearbox use the same lubricant, improved thermal and electrical lubricant properties are required [28]. In BEVs, the lubricating fluid is in contact with both the electrical motor and the gearbox, demanding superior electric properties such as electrical conductivity dielectric constant, and dielectric strength along with good thermal management, and material adaptability [29].…”

“…cating fluid is in contact with both the electrical motor and the gearbox, demanding superior electric properties such as electrical conductivity dielectric constant, and dielectric strength along with good thermal management, and material adaptability [29].…”

Lubrication Performance under Electrical Regulation: Investigating the Mechanism of Graphene/Ionic Liquid Composite Materials

“…Lubricants offer a cost-effective solution to this challenge. They not only enhance the contact state of friction interfaces but also respond to external electrical stimuli, aiding in the development of lubrication control systems [4] . Consequently, research on lubricants and additives under charged conditions is crucial for understanding their mechanisms in electri ed mechanical systems and optimizing their application strategies.…”