Tribological improvement using Ti3C2Tx MXenes and/or CaCO3 nanoparticles as lubricant additives

Abstract

The main goal of this work is the tribological characterization of low viscosity nanolubricants, PAO8 base oil containing Ti3C2Tx MXenes and/or functionalized CaCO3 (CaCO3-OA) nanoparticles as additives. Friction enhancements were reached with CaCO3-OA nanolubricants with maximum reductions of 44 % for the optimal concentration of 0.10 wt% CaCO3-OA. With respect to wear, significant improvements in antiwear performance were achieved with maximum reductions in wear width of 27 % (0.15 wt% CaCO3-OA), 14 % (0.10 wt% Ti3C2Tx) and 13 % for hybrid (0.10 wt% CaCO3-OA/Ti3C2Tx) nanolubricants. Confocal Raman microscopy was utilized to recognize the mechanisms that govern tribological improvement: tribofilm formation for Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and tribofilm formation and self-repairing for CaCO3-OA nanoparticles.