Effect of palm oil methyl ester on coconut oil as a viable bio-lubricant alternative to traditional mineral-based oils

Vegetable oils are promoted as a base oil for automobile lubricants due to increased concerns about the environmental damage caused by synthetic and mineral oils-derived lubricants. Coconut oil exhibits excellent tribological properties but poor cold flow properties. This work investigates the effect of the addition of palm oil methyl ester (POME), obtained from the transesterification of palm oil, on coconut oil by blending it in three proportions with varying volumes and evaluating for lubricant properties namely tribological properties, rheological properties, thermal properties, chemical properties and corrosion and oxidative stabilities. Fatty acid composition are evaluated for the base oil and the blends. The findings show that the addition of POME improves the base oil's pour point and reduces friction and wear. The corrosion test shows only slight tarnishing of copper strips, while the HOOT and chemical tests indicate appreciable resistance to oxidation. Therefore, this blended mixture has the potential to be a viable bio-lubricant alternative to traditional mineral-based oils.