Improving the AW/EP ability of chemically modified palm oil by adding CuO and MoS2 nanoparticles

• Nano bio-lubricants were synthesized by dispersion of nanoparticles in CMPO.
• Performance of trial oils was investigated by standard tribo-testing.
• Worn surfaces were analyzed by SEM, EDX and micro Raman spectroscopy.
• Nano bio-lubricants show better anti-wear (AW) and extreme pressure (EP) ability.
• Surfactant helped in better suspension of nanoparticles with less sediments.

Improvement in the anti-wear (AW) and extreme pressure (EP) ability of chemically modified palm oil (CMPO) by adding nanoparticles was experimentally evaluated. Nanolubricants were synthesized by adding 1 wt% copper(II) oxide (CuO) and 1 wt% molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoparticles to CMPO. The AW/EP properties of the formulations were evaluated by four-ball and sliding wear tests. Wear surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, along with energy-dispersive X-ray and micro-Raman scattering spectroscopy. The MoS2 nanoparticles exhibited better AW/EP properties than did the CuO nanoparticles. The addition of 1 wt% oleic acid as a surfactant facilitated the reduction of agglomerates.