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ESR 2: Green-lubricated contacts through in-situ tribofilm formation using environmentally adapted nanotechnologies

Objectives: To harness the potential of carbon-based nanospecies (graphene, CNTs, fullerenes) through their reactivity in a lubricated contact. To produce efficient low-friction and low-wear coatings by a controlled reactivity at the lubricated asperities. To produce a green boundary-lubrication solution by an innovative use of nanoparticulate additives.

ESR: Afrina Khan Piya (Bangladesh)

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GreenTRIBOS is an innovative program that deals with incorporation of revolutionary engineering technology with green concept of tribology to develop sustainable balance between overall engineering and environment. It is an unconventional program that deals with current necessities of socio-economic problems and a dual degree program that will give experience to work with internationally recognized universities and companies. This program will enable me as a researcher to be competent enough to do cutting edge research to build a sustainable future.

Previous studies:
Bachelor's degree: Mechanical Engineering, Military Institute of Technology, Bangladesh
Master's degree: Mechanical Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan

PhD double degree at: University of Leeds & Luleå University of Technology

Expected Results: Carbon-based and other nanoparticles are normally dispersed phase in the lubricant and with the hypothesis that act like micro/nano ball bearings. This project changes this hypothesis and will exploit the reactivity of the lubricant constituents and the nanoparticle additives in the contact to produce an in-situ coating process. In fact, the formation of a tribofilm is by its very nature an in-situ coating process, so this project will investigate the following aspects that are distinct to nanoparticle-containing lubricant:

  • Understanding the nature of the reacted layer which binds and encapsulates the nanoparticles in a reacted layer

  • Understanding how the proportions of the added nanoparticles are harnessed in the contact

  • Understanding the durability of the in-situ-formed layers as a function of the nanoparticle and carrier-oil (TOTAL) characteristics