Evaluation of Friction Co-efficient and Wear Performance of Jatropha Oil Using Standard Steel Ball on Aluminium Disc Tribometer

Abstract

Friction and wear cause energy dissipation and material wastage in industrial machines and therefore need to be controlled. Lubrication is one of the most effective means of reducing friction and wear. The global concern about the negative impact of using mineral oil-based lubricants is driving the growth in bio-lubricant research. The friction and wear performance of jatropha oil as compared to that of mineral oil lubricant SAE 20W50 has been evaluated using Anton Par standard steel ball on aluminium disc tribometer TRN version 6.1.19. The friction coefficient of the steel upon aluminium tribo-pair under dry (no lubrication) conditions was 0.420 while the wear rate was 0.01513 mm3N-1m-1. The mineral oil-based lubricant SAE 20W50 reduced the friction coefficient to 0.115 corresponding to 72.6 % reduction and the wear rate to 0.0067 mm3N-1m-1 corresponding to 55.7 % reduction. The jatropha oil reduced friction coefficient by 96.7 % (friction coefficient of 0.014) and the wear by 58.9 % (0.0062 mm3N-1m-1). From the results of this research, it is obvious that the jatropha oil is a very effective lubricant that is superior to mineral oil based lubricant SAE 20W50 in friction and wear reduction, and therefore is recommended as an environmentally-friendly and sustainable alternative to mineral oil-based lubricant SAE 20W50.