journal article·2025-07-24Open access

Synergistic Effects of CuO and ZnO Nanoadditives on Friction and Wear in Automotive Base Oil

Ádám István Szabó, Rafiul Hasan

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 15

Abstract

Efficient lubrication lowers friction, wear, and energy losses in automotive drivetrain components. Advanced lubricants are key to sustainable transportation performance, durability, and efficiency. This study analyzes the tribological performance of Group III base oil with CuO and ZnO nanoadditive mixtures. These additives enhance the performance of Group III base oils, making them highly relevant for automotive lubricant applications. An Optimol SRV5 tribometer performed ball-on-disk sliding contact tests with 100Cr6 steel specimens subjected to a 50 N force and a temperature of 100 °C. The test settings are designed to mimic the boundary and mixed lubrication regimes commonly seen in the automobile industry. During the tests, the effect of nanoparticles on friction was measured. Microscopic wear analysis was performed on the worn specimens. The results demonstrate that adding 0.3 wt% CuO nanoparticles to Group III base oil achieves a 19% reduction in dynamic friction and a 47% decrease in disk wear volume compared to additive-free oil. Notably, a 2:1 CuO-to-ZnO mixture produced synergy, delivering up to a 27% friction reduction and a 54% decrease in disk wear. The results show the synergistic effect of CuO and ZnO in reducing friction and wear on specimens. This study highlights the potential of nanoparticles for lubricant development and automotive applications.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Lubricants and Their Additives · Tribology and Wear Analysis · Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Propulsion Technology, Széchenyi István University, H-9026 Győr, Hungary

Funding

“Synthetic fuels production and validation in cooperation between industry and university”

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