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

• Published in: JURNAL TRIBOLOGI
• Main Authors: Kamis, Shahira Liza; Yusoff, Bakhit I.; Fukuda, Kanao; Tahir, Noor Ayuma Mat; Sukri, Ikmal Alif Ahmad; Ahmad, Mohamad Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MALAYSIAN TRIBOLOGY SOC-MYTRIBOS 2024
• Subjects: Engineering
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001196294100003

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.