Abstract

In this new era, reducing engine wear and improving fuel efficiency of an engine have made nanotechnology to spread its wings to next level. Furthermore, the usage of nanoparticles as additives in lubricants repels in enhancing the engine properties (performance). In this regards, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with 70 nm particle size has been employed as additives by dispersing (0.025 vol%) of hBN in SAE 20 W50 Military grade diesel based engine oil. The physicochemical properties of the nano additives (hBN) were examined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), physical stability observation test and zeta potential analysis. The tribological performance of the hBN as nano additives in SAE 20 W50 engine oil was investigated using ASTM standard four-ball tribotester. From the tribological testing, coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate of the nano additives was determined by measuring the wear scar diameter and smoothness of the worn surface on ball bearings. The tribological results reveal that 20.5% and 9.47% of improvement in Coefficient of Friction (COF) and Wear Scar Diameter (WSD) in hBN as compared with bare engine oil. Thus the outcome of this experiment revealed that, there is a significant rate of reduction in COF and wear rate of engine oil with hBN nanoparticles compared to engine oil without the additives. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Virtual Conference on Advanced Nanomaterials and Applications.