Experimental Analysis of Silver Nanoparticle-Enhanced Polyethylene Glycol Lubricants

Conference Name: Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE)
Location: Detroit, MI
Date: 5/2013

List of Authors:

Hamed Ghaednia, Robert L. Jackson

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to investigate the effect of silver nanoparticle additives on the friction, wear and tribological properties of polyethylene Glycol lubricants (PEG 600). Experimental investigations have been carried out using a pin-on-disk test setup. Wear is measured using surface profilometery which reports the worn volume of the surface. The tested samples are submerged in a small reservoir of the nano-lubricant while the test is running. Different studies explored the effect of normal force and particle concentration on friction and wear. The nanoparticle/surface interaction has also been investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Results show that particles are effective in reducing the friction. Moreover, based on the results, different enhancing mechanisms of nanoparticles have been discussed and the possible mechanisms have been elucidated.