2026/01/01 by Quangang Li, Jianbo Zhou, Xiaofeng Wu +1 · 1 voice
Engineering · #Lubricants and Their Additives #Metal and Thin Film Mechanics #Tribology and Wear Analysis
paper · doi:10.1515/chem-2025-0235
openalex publication_date 2026/01/01 · openalex created_date 2026/04/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Abstract This study investigates the tribological performance of a novel nanodispersion lubricant system designed to improve the durability of high-carbon chromium alloy steel cutting tools. MoS 2 nanoparticles with lateral dimensions ranging from 60 to 100 nm and an average thickness of 12 nm were surface-modified with oleic acid and uniformly dispersed in PAO 6 base oil using ultrasonic treatment for 60 min. Three distinct MoS 2 mass fractions of 0.025, 0.1, and 0.2 wt.% (corresponding to nominal elemental Mo contents of ∼150, 599, and 1,199 mg/kg, respectively, based on MoS 2 stoichiometry) were evaluated under a constant load of 75 N, a rotational speed of 150 rpm, and a sliding distance of 1,000 m. Results demonstrated that the friction coefficient decreased from 0.16 for untreated substrates to 0.07 for the highest nanoparticle concentration, while wear scar widths reduced from 122 µm to 63 µm. Additionally, the wear rate was diminished from 1.8 × 10 −3 μm 3 /N·m to 0.9 × 10 −3 μm 3 /N·m with increasing nanoparticle content. Advanced characterization techniques, including SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and XPS, confirmed the formation of a continuous protective tribofilm containing partially oxidized Mo species and transferred substrate elements. This composite layer effectively redistributed applied loads and mitigated surface damage through a self-healing mechanism, thereby enhancing oxidation resistance and overall lubrication efficiency. The experimental findings provide a systematic correlation between nanoparticle concentration and tribological improvement, offering valuable insights into the design of advanced lubricant formulations for high-performance machining applications. Overall, the present study conclusively confirms that nanostructured additives significantly enhance machining efficiency.