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The effect of TiO2 phase on the lubricating performance of sol–gel-derived TiO2 nanoparticles in fully formulated engine oil

  • Original Paper: Industrial and technological applications of sol–gel and hybrid materials
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Abstract

This paper is devoted to investigate the friction-reducing and wear protection performance of TiO2 nanoparticles as lubricant additive in fully formulated engine oil. The phase of TiO2 nanoparticles, synthesized by a sol–gel process, was characterized by XRD. A four-ball tribometer was used to compare the friction coefficient and wear when lubricated by engine oil in absence and presence of TiO2 nanoparticles. The surface chemistry of tribofilm was observed by XPS. The experiments showed that phase of TiO2 nanoparticles plays great role in determining the friction-reducing and wear protection of engine oil containing TiO2 nanoparticles. TiO2 nanoparticles upon calcination at 300 °C are amorphous, showing lowest hardness and then best friction-reducing and wear protection performance in engine oil. Rutile nanoparticles obtained upon calcination at the temperature above 700 °C, on the contrary, act as abrasive in the sliding contact and present larger wear than the blank engine oil.

Amorphous TiO2 nanoparticles calcinated at 300 °C presents lowest average coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter in engine oil.

Highlights

  • The tribological performances of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in the engine oil are investigated.

  • The phase of TiO2 NPs plays role in determining tribological performance of oil with TiO2 NPs.

  • Amorphous TiO2 NPs calcinated at 300 °C show lowest hardness and best wear protection in oil.

  • Rutile NPs upon calcination at >700 °C act as abrasive and present larger wear than blank engine oil.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support by National Natural Science Foundation of China [51975304], Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China [ZR2019MEE016] and Postdoctoral program of Qingdao City, China. YW thanks Prof. Chonghai Xu for his helpful discussion.

Funding

YW acknowledge the financial support by National Natural Science Foundation of China [51975304] and Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China [ZR2019MEE016]. CL acknowledge the financial support by Postdoctoral Program of Qingdao City, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, 250353, PR China

    Lei Cao, Yang Li & Yong Wan

  2. Shandong Applied Research Center of Gold Nanotechnology (Au-SDARC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China

    Caixia Qi

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  1. Lei Cao
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  2. Yang Li
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YW and LC designed research, YL performed research, CQ and YW analyzed data, LC, CQ, and YW wrote the paper

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Correspondence to Yong Wan.

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Cao, L., Li, Y., Wan, Y. et al. The effect of TiO2 phase on the lubricating performance of sol–gel-derived TiO2 nanoparticles in fully formulated engine oil. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 96, 327–335 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-020-05354-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-020-05354-4

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