Superdispersed spherical fullerenol and lamellar graphene oxide synergize to enhance the antiwear properties of water-based lubricants: Mathematical model and mechanism investigation

• Published in: Wear Vol. 554-555; p. 205481
• Main Authors: Wu, Bo, Wu, Liangbin, Li, Chuan, Yuan, Ziji, Wu, Qian, Wang, Changge, Xu, Ling, Qin, Ye, Hu, Xianguo, Li, Chuanrun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.09.2024
• Subjects: Antiwear mechanism; Carbon-based nanomaterials; Tribological property; Water-based lubricant; Tribological property; Water-based lubricant; Antiwear mechanism; Carbon-based nanomaterials
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2024.205481

The development of high-performance water-based lubricating additives with excellent properties has been the focus of research recently. Herein, carbon-based nanomaterials made of spherical fullerenol and lamellar graphene oxide (GO) were explored as water-based lubricating additives to enhance tribological properties via the response surface method systematically. The antiwear mechanisms of the carbon-based nanomaterials were revealed through simultaneous wear surface characterizations and molecular dynamics simulations. Results showed that the spherical fullerenol and lamellar GO had superdispersion stability in the water-based lubricants. Fullerenol and GO could play a superior synergistic role to considerably enhance the antiwear properties of the water-based lubricants. Particularly, the wear rate decreased by almost 93 % when the water-based lubricant was supplemented with fullerenol and GO (0.1 wt% each) at the load of 1.5 N and sliding speed of 30 mm/s. The antiwear mechanisms indicated that an excellent antiwear effect was produced by the stable tribofilms containing GO and fullerenol, which combined with hydration layers synergistically exerting a bearing capacity. Superdispersed spherical fullerenol and lamellar graphene oxide presented the superior synergistic antiwear property as the water-based lubricating additives. The excellent antiwear effect was produced by the stable tribofilms containing GO and fullerenol which combined with hydration layers synergistically exerting a bearing capacity. [Display omitted] •The spherical fullerenol and lamellar GO possessed superdispersion stability in the water-based lubricant.•The spherical fullerenol and lamellar GO could play a superior synergistic antiwear role as the additives.•A novel antiwear mechanism of tribofilms promoting the formation of hydration bearing layer was proposed.