Preparation and tribological properties of lanthanum-doped TiO2 nanoparticles in rapeseed oil

Oleic acid (denoted as OA) surface-capped lanthanum-doped titanium dioxide composite nanoparticles, abbreviated as OA/La-TiO2, were prepared via sol-gel method in association with surface modification by oleic acid. The microstructure of as-prepared OA/La-TiO2 was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and their thermal stability was evaluated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. Moreover, the tribological properties of OA/La-TiO2 as lubricant additives in rapeseed oil were evaluated with a four-ball friction and wear tester. The morphology as well as elemental composition and chemical characteristics of worn steel surfaces was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results showed that as-prepared OA/La-TiO2 particles were of spherical shape and had an average diameter of 20 nm. In the meantime, OA/La-TiO2 particles doped with 1.5% (molar ratio; the same hereafter) and 2.5% of lanthanum could markedly improve the anti-wear and friction-reducing capacities of rapeseed oil. This is attributed to the formation of a complex boundary lubrication film mainly composed of the oxides of iron, titanium and lanthanum as well as the formation of an adsorption film of oleic acid on steel sliding surfaces.

Graphical AbstractFriction coefficients of GCr15 steel balls lubricated with different lubrication oilFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide