Investigation of the effects of nanoparticle additive lubricants on the adhesive wear properties of ST37 steel and AISI304

Abstract

In this study, the adhesive wear behavior of different metals lubricated with nanoparticle-modified oils was investigated. Two different metal samples, namely St37 steel and AISI304, were used. As the lubricant, the widely used industrial 10W-40 motor oil was selected and titanium carbide (TiC) and titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles were added at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight to improve the tribological properties. The lubricants were homogeneously mixed with the nanoparticles, and the prepared samples were subjected to wear tests using the pin-on-disk method. Tests were conducted under fixed parameters, and subsequently, the worn surfaces were analyzed in detail using SEM, EDS, FTIR, UV spectroscopy and Optical Microscopy techniques. The results demonstrated that the addition of nanoparticles reduced the coefficient of friction and increased wear resistance. Particularly, the addition of 3% TiN and TiC nanoparticles provided lower wear tracks and more homogeneous surface deformation on all metal surfaces. This study presents important findings supporting the potential of nanoparticle-reinforced lubricants to extend the service life and improve the performance of machines in industrial applications.

Keywords

• Tribology
• AISI304
• St37 Steel
• TiC
• TiN

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