Assessing the Performance of Nano Lubricant on Zinc Aluminium Alloy

S Parimala Murugaveni; P R Thyla

doi:10.14429/dsj.69.13313

S Parimala Murugaveni Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore - 641 013
P R Thyla Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore - 641 012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.69.13313

Keywords: Nano-lubrication, Nano-graphite, Wear behaviour, ZA27

Abstract

In the field of tribology, Zinc Aluminium (ZA) alloys have been widely investigated for their superior wear characteristics. They were found to be suitable alternatives for bearing bronzes for the operating conditions of high mechanical load and moderate sliding speeds. Addition of nano-particles in the lubricating oil (base oil) to enhance the characteristics of the base oil is known as nano lubrication. In this study, sliding wear behaviour of ZA27 was investigated under dry, base oil and nano oil lubrication conditions, by varying load, sliding distance and sliding speed. With the base oil as SAE 40, nano graphite was added in two step method which was further used to identify the lubrication regime under different lubrication conditions. From the limited study of single melt samples, the results appear that the wear behaviour of ZA27 alloy improved under nano lubrication conditions with reduction in operating temperature. It could be observed from SEM images that the presence of nano-particles reduced scarring and wear, leading to enhancement in the tribological performance of ZA27 alloy.

Author Biographies

S Parimala Murugaveni, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore - 641 013

Ms S. Parimala Murugaveni received the BE in Mechanical Engineering from Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore in 1999. She received her ME in Engineering design from Anna University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, in 2005. She is currently an Associate Professor (CAS) at Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. Her research interests are tribology, nano lubrication and mechatronics.

P R Thyla, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore - 641 012

Dr P.R. Thyla graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Department, PSGCollege of Technology, Coimbatore in 1987. She received MTech Machine design 1990 from the IITM, Chennai. She received PhD in 2005, from Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore. She is currently Head of Department, Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSGCollege of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil nadu. Having 30 years of experience in teaching she published more than 50 research papers in international journals. Her current research interest includes Machine design and dynamics and Composite materials.