Effect of varying fly ash additive ratios on viscosity variation of lubricating oil at different temperatures

Abstract

This study primarily aimed to conduct experimental research, focusing on examining the effects of various fly ash additive ratios, spanning from 0% to 1%, on the alterations in lubricating oil viscosity over a temperature range extending from 25°C to 85°C. The study employed viscosity measurements using the Rhotest VR2 viscometer on a commonly used lubricating oil, and carefully analyzed their behavior with varying fly ash additive concentration ratios. The results revealed that the addition of the fly ash additive increased the oil’s viscosity at all tested temperatures. The viscosity showed a proportional increase with the amount of additive up to a 0.5% weight ratio. Beyond this concentration, the viscosity began to decrease but remained higher compared to that without the additive, attributed to the thermal conductive properties of the additive’s high-hardness metal oxide particles. The viscosity of the oil mixture with a 0.5% additive ratio increases compared to the case without the additive at temperatures of 25°C, 40°C, 65°C, 75°C and 85°C, corresponding to 13.88%, 18.32%, 37.73%, 22.91% and 32.97%, respectively. These research findings provide crucial insights for fine-tuning lubricant formulations across a spectrum of applications, especially in scenarios where temperature fluctuations play a pivotal role in lubricant efficacy. By judiciously choosing the right proportion of fly ash additive, engineers and researchers can augment the lubricative attributes of oils and enhance their resilience under diverse thermal conditions. This includes factors such as increasing viscosity, load-carrying capacity and stiffness of the oil film. The result is a machinery operation that is not only more efficient but also more dependable.