Properties, functions and applications of commonly used lubricant additives: A review

• Published in: Materials today : proceedings Vol. 44; pp. 5018 - 5022
• Main Authors: Singh, Anurag, Verma, Neeraj, Mamatha, T.G., Kumar, Alok, Singh, Saurabh, Kumar, Kaushal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2021
• Subjects: Additives; Lubricants; Tribology; Lubricants; Additives; Tribology
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2021.01.029

Wear and friction results in a huge loss of energy around the world. The need to reduce the loss has prompted the scientific community to improve the performance of lubricants. The surge in the use of additive based lubricants emphasizes its importance in the modern tribology. It has drawn the attention of the researchers to develop a stable and efficient additive based lubricant. The aim of this paper is to review these additives and underline the methods to prepare a stable solution. Understanding their properties, mechanism and shortcomings is advantageous to figure out the application. In this paper the review of commonly used lubricant additives such as Titanium dioxide, Aluminium oxide, Zinc oxide, Copper and Copper oxide, Carbon nanotubes, Molybdenum disulphide, Tungsten disulphide and Diamond is provided. The base oil or lubricants are usually not effective enough. Lubricant additives in the form of micro and nanoparticles are widely used to enhance the performance of base oil. The additives are generally used to improve the tribological and thermal properties of the base oil or fluid. Heat dissipation rate, load carrying capacity, wear and friction properties of the base oil or fluid is ameliorated by the addition of these additive. Further, the paper also incorporates the recent progress in the use of these additives.