Experimental Investigation of the Friction Modifying Effects of Graphene and C60 Fullerene Used as Nanoadditives in Engine Lubricating Oil Performed on an Oscillating Tribometer

Abstract

The present article presents the results of tribological investigations performed on an off-the-shelf engine lubricant containing nanoadditives of multilayered graphene and C60 fullerene alternately. As anthropogenic CO₂ is believed to be highly responsible for global climate change, its emission is regulated in many countries. CO₂ emissions can be significantly decreased by improving the efficiency i.e. decreasing the losses in an engine. Hence reducing frictional losses was the ultimate scope of the investigations presented in this article. The experiments were carried out on an oscillating tribometer at the Department of Internal Combustion Engines at Széchenyi István University. The experiments showed that multilayered graphene in engine lubricant did not modify the friction coefficient inevitably (-1% to +4%). Fullerene nanoparticles, however, reduced the friction by 4–8%. The optimal fullerene doping quantity that resulted in the lowest friction showed to be at around 0.14 wt%.