Re-evaluation of Lubricant Oil Specifications Using Surface Modified Alumina Nanoadditives

Small size 3±0.5nm alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles have been prepared using control precipitation method in aqueous solution. Aluminum nitrate and ammonium carbonate were added to heated distilled water. Aluminum hydroxide was formed and calcined at 550 oC to produce boehmite (ɤ-Al2O3) nanoparticles. The novelty of this work is the surface modification of the formed ɤ-Al2O3 nanoparticles, characterized by their low cost, ease production, high melting point, corrosion resistance, high strength, chemical stability, low thermal conductivity and good electrical insulation properties by using oleic acid as a coupling agent to avoid the disadvantage of using nanomaterials as additives to lubricant oils due to their agglomeration to enhance the lubricant oil specifications. With three concentrations of surface modified Al2O3 nanoparticles, an improvement for physical properties of lubricant oil was observed. Lubricant with 0.05 wt% of surface modified Al2O3 nanoparticles has not applicable change in viscosity and has notable improvement in flash point, pour point, thermal stability and antiwear ability by rates 4.3%, 150%, 33% and 9.4%, respectively. Surface modification process for alumina provides a suitable dispersion of nanoparticles inside lubricant oil. In conclusion, alumina nanoadditives enhance the lubricant base-oil specification that introduces a leap for lubricant industry. A R T I C L E H I S T O R Y Received: September 30, 2016 Revised: April 27, 2017 Accepted: April 29, 2017 DOI: 10.2174/2210681207666170619084117