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Title: FRICTION BEHAVIOR OF SOME SEED OILS: BIO-BASED LUBRICANT APPLICATIONS

Author
item ADHVARYU, ATANU - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
item Biresaw, Girma
item SHARMA, BRAJENDRA - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
item Erhan, Sevim

Submitted to: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2006
Publication Date: 4/5/2006
Citation: Adhvaryu, A., Biresaw, G., Sharma, B.K., Erhan, S.Z. 2006. Friction behavior of some seed oils: Bio-based lubricant applications. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 45(10):3735-3740.

Interpretive Summary: Seed oils are a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to mineral base oils in lubrication and other important industrial applications. They are triesters having a complex distribution of fatty acid (FA) chains. All the physical and chemical properties of seed oils are dependent on their FA distribution, composition and other functional groups in the chain structure. In this work, the free energy of adsorption of some seed oils was investigated under boundary lubrication regime using steel ball-on-disk geometry. This work can be used as a screening tool for seed oils and derivatives for lubrication and industrial fluid applications. Based on the energy of surface adsorption, it is possible to select a suitable candidate as lubricant base fluids. Statistical analysis on FA distribution and 'G(ads) was helpful in making a generalized assumption on adsorption behavior. The results are consistent with theoretical assumptions on surface adsorption as a function of molecular structure.

Technical Abstract: Seed oils are a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to mineral base oils in lubrication and other important industrial applications. They are generally triesters (Triacylglycerols, TG) having a complex distribution of fatty acid (FA) chains. All the physical and chemical properties of seed oils are dependent on their FA distribution, composition and additional functional groups in the chain structure. In this work, the free energy of adsorption ('G(ads)) of cottonseed, canola, olive and meadowfoam oil is investigated in boundary lubrication regime using steel ball-on-disk geometry. Adsorption values were compared with monoesters with varying chain lengths. It was observed, based on computed 'G(ads), that molecular polarity, hydrocarbon chain length and relative distribution of unsaturation in the FA chain can affect adsorption on the metal surface. Statistical analysis on FA distribution and 'G(ads) was helpful in making a generalized assumption on adsorption behavior. The results are consistent with theoretical assumptions on surface adsorption as a function of molecular structure.