Preparation and Tribological Properties of Modified Field’s Alloy Nanoparticles as Additives in Liquid Poly-alfa-olefin Solution

Abstract

This study described the synthesis and the tribological properties of surface-modified Field’s alloy nanoparticles, which were prepared by a facile one-step nanoemulsion method and using ethyl carbamate as a surfactant, as additives in liquid poly-alfa-olefin (PAO) oil. The size and morphology of nanoparticles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The zeta potential, viscosity, and stability properties of the surface-modified nanoparticles suspended in PAO oil (called nanofluid) with different mass concentrations were measured by a viscometer and Zeta potential analyzer, respectively. The tribological properties of the nanofluid were tested by a ball to disk wear and friction machine. Compared with pure PAO oil, the results showed that the nanofluids had better lubricating behaviors. When the mass concentration of modified nanoparticles was 0.08 wt. %, both the friction coefficient and the wear scar diameter were the lowest.