Tribological Study on Water-Based Lubricants Containing Nanocomposite of Hexagonal Boron Nitride (h-BN) & Titanium Dioxide (Tio2).

Abstract

This study explores the potential of water-based lubricants enhanced with Hexagonal Boron Nitride (h-BN) and Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites to improve tribological performance, reduce environmental impact, and offer economic advantages. The investigation highlights the significant reduction in friction and wear achieved through the integration of these nanoparticles, with an optimal concentration of 0.25 wt% h-BN and TiO2 resulting in the lowest average coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.0467, compared to 0.433 for dry conditions and 0.3135 for distilled water. This represents a friction reduction of up to 89.2% and a wear area reduction of up to 86%. This study explores the potential of water-based lubricants enhanced with h-BN and TiO2 nanocomposites to improve tribological performance, reduce environmental impact, and offer economic advantages. The investigation highlights the significant reduction in friction and wear achieved through the integration of these nanoparticles, with an optimal concentration of 0.25 wt% h-BN and TiO2 resulting in the lowest average coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.0467, compared to 0.433 for dry conditions and 0.3135 for distilled water. This represents a friction reduction of up to 89.2% and a wear area reduction of up to 86%. The study also addresses technical challenges in scaling up production while maintaining nanoparticle dispersion stability and long-term performance. Future research directions include longitudinal studies on stability, optimisation of nanoparticle concentrations, and comprehensive environmental and economic lifecycle analyses. The integration of h-BN and TiO2 nanocomposites in lubrication technology promises to enhance energy efficiency, reduce maintenance and downtime, and align with sustainability goals, positioning these advanced lubricants as a transformative solution for the tribology field and related industries.