Tribological properties of graphite particles as an anti-friction and anti-wear additive in lithium soap grease

• Published in: Jurnal Tribologi
• Main Author: Kamis S.L.; Yusoff B.I.; Fukuda K.; Tahir N.A.M.; Sukri I.A.A.; Ahmad M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Tribology Society (Mytribos) 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85189647628&partnerID=40&md5=80237dcd8d5342b7fb7a3ae1bee92000

The objective of this study is to investigate the use of graphite submicron particles as an additive to enhance the tribological properties of lithium soap grease. In this study, various concentrations of graphite particles ranging from 0 to 16 wt.% were incorporated into the lithium soap grease. The friction and wear were evaluated using a ballon-disc tribometer, following the ASTM G99 standard. Additionally, a rheological test to measure viscosity was conducted following ISO 3219-2. The results of the experiment showed that the addition of graphite particles led to reduction in the viscosity of the lithium soap grease. Moreover, at steady-state friction, a 2 wt.% concentration of graphite resulted in a remarkable 41% decrease in the friction coefficient and a 15% reduction in wear scar diameter. These findings indicate that introducing graphite particles to lithium soap grease can significantly improve its lubrication performance, making it an effective solution to address friction and wear issues in industrial machinery. © 2024, Malaysian Tribology Society (Mytribos). All rights reserved.