Tribological Assessment of Palm Oil Blended with an Oxidation Inhibitor (Tert-Butylhydroquinone)

Current lubricants, including those made of mineral oil, are harmful to the environment since they are not biodegradable and pose health risks to humans and other organisms. Lubricant made of vegetable oil has been advocated for as a possible substitute for a base of mineral oil. However, the long-term effects of the oxidation process are a big concern when utilizing palm oil as a lubricant. The lubricant in this investigation was double fractionated palm olein (SO), while the anti-oxidant agent was tertiary-butyl-hydroquinone (TBHQ). In order to compare the blended oil’s qualities to engine oil, three different types of super olein mixture were used (150 PPM, 300 PPM and 450 PPM) that been compared to benchmark lubricant (engine oil and based oil). The findings showed that the additional TBHQ increase the coefficient of friction as the PPM is higher. Adding TBHQ to SO has reduced the wear scar diameter (WSD) but an increase in TBHQ concentration led to a slightly higher WSD. The surface roughness on the other hand shows that the most optimum concentration at IV64-300 PPM. Unfortunately, the metallic soap coating could not extend its protection over the metal surface, leading to bigger wear scar diameters.