Frictional Properties of Molybdenum-Based Lubricating Oil Additives Using Green Chemistry

• Published in: SAE International journal of fuels and lubricants Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 496 - 503
• Main Authors: Bhalla, Gaurav, Tsang, Man Hon, Gao, David, Chen, Qunlai, Ruhe, William, Ushioda, Nobuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Warrendale SAE International 01.01.2012; SAE International, a Pennsylvania Not-for Profit
• Subjects: Carbon disulfide; Coefficient of friction; Engines; Friction; Friction reduction; Fuel economy; Green chemistry; Hydrogen sulfide; Low molecular weights; Lubricants; Lubricating oils; Lubrication; Materials; Molecular weight; Molybdenum; Molybdenum disulfide; Oil additives; Sulfur; Sulfur sources; Torque; Viscosity
• ISSN: 1946-3952; 1946-3960; 1946-3960
• DOI: 10.4271/2011-01-2131

In this study, a green process was developed to synthesize a novel molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) based friction modifier (FM) for improving fuel economy performance of lubricants. These new materials were synthesized using less hazardous elemental sulfur as opposed to other sulfur sources like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon disulfide (CS2). Using various bench and motoring friction torque tests, it was shown that friction reduction was benefited by utilizing low molecular weight organic backbone when designing molybdenum FMs. Also, it was shown that newly synthesized molybdenum based FMs were comparable to other well known MoS2precursors.