Experimental Evaluation of Lubrication Performance of Cu Nano-Fluids in Elastohydrodynamic Contacts

With the advent of tribo-chemistry new materials and additives are being synthesized and investigated for the enhancement of tribological performance of the contacts. In this context the nano-particles of Cu has been functionalized and blended with the commercial lubricants to form the Cu-nano-fluids. This research paper reports an experimental investigation of tribological behavior of 0.1%, 0.15% and 0.2% by weight of copper nano-particle-based nano-fluids (NF) in commercial lubricants of grade SAE 5W40. Two different commercially available blended lubricants were selected as base oils. The physico-chemical property of the base oils and the nanofluids were determined using standard ASTM and IS procedures. The experimental investigations were performed on four-ball sliding contact geometry to assess the anti-friction and anti-wear behavior. The results reveal that the nano-fluids result in reduction of friction and wear. From the study it can be concluded that the Cu nano-fluids can provide efficient lubrication under EHL regime.