Tribology properties of Al2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites as lubricant additives

Al2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites with an average size of 75 nm were synthesized via an in-situ surface modification method. The nanoparticles were analyzed by scanning electron microscope and Zeta potential analyzer. Results showed that modified Al2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles have significantly improved dispersion stability in lubricating oil due to the introduction of grafted polymers onto the surface of the nanoparticles. The friction and wear properties of lubricating oil with added Al2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites were investigated on a MMU-10G friction-abrasion tester. It was found that the use of modified Al2O3/TiO2 nanocomposites provided a much better tribological performance of the lubricating oil. The anti-friction mechanism is based on the formation of a protective film on the worn surface and the wear behavior changing from sliding friction to rolling friction during the friction process.