Moringa and Graphite as Additives to Conventional Petroleum-Based Lubricants

• Main Authors: Nadiège Nomède-Martyr, Philippe Bilas, Yves Bercion, Philippe Thomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Lubricants
• Subjects: vegetable oil; graphite; additive; mixed lubrication
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/9/7/65

Many researches are focused on the tribological performances of pure vegetable oil in order to replace the conventional mineral engine oils. This work investigates the influence of local moringa oil (noted VO) on the performances of lubricants formed from a blend of dodecane and graphite particles at ambient temperature. In a first part, a reduction of about 50% of friction properties of dodecane is observed when adding small amounts of moringa oil (VO), which is intended to be used as a bio-base performance additive in lubricant formulations. The friction properties of their blends with graphite, generally employed as solid lubricant additive, showed an adsorption effect of fatty acid molecules. The more promising results were obtained for the blend containing 2 w% of VO. Physicochemical characterizations of the tribofilms evidence the good antiwear properties of the lubricant.