Thesis
Polymer-supported components as lubricant additives
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2024
- Thesis identifier
- T16978
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201674648
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- Lubricants are a critical component in many industries as they provide a liquid interface between solid surfaces. This interface lowers friction, resulting in smoother operation of moving parts and reduced wear from surface-surface contact. Formulating engine oils, however, requires considerable design in the environment of internal combustion engines. The failure of an engine oil can lead to catastrophic engine failure; as such, additives are dissolved to improve the base oil and generate the final lubricant. Excess additives must be added to compensate for consumption over time, however this is detrimental to the lubricant’s recyclability and the fuel economy of the engine. Herein, methods for producing polymer resin-supported dispersants and antioxidants, proven to improve a lubricant through multiple demonstrations in industrial test engines, is detailed. To accomplish this, three poly(divinylbenzene-co-vinylbenzyl chloride) resins of varying functional group loading and pore structure were synthesised and characterised as precursor resins. These precursors were subject to polymer-analogous reactions to introduce functional groups commonly used in engine oil formulations such as polyamines, aromatic amines, and phenols. The functionalised resins were then screened to test their capabilities as dispersants and antioxidants. Dispersants were screened by examining material absorbed onto the surface of a particle after being immersed in a filtered, pre-sludged oil whereas antioxidants were screened using a scavenging assay of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals. The most efficient polymers were subject to thorough examination utilising test engines designed for high oxidation or sludge generation. The oils with the novel additives showed notable increases to their oxidative stability and sludge inhibition. Thus, it can be inferred that the resin-immobilised additives are effective in mimicking and substituting soluble additives.
- Advisor / supervisor
- Cormack, Peter
- Payne, Marc
- Resource Type
- Note
- The confidentiality statement on each page of this thesis DOES NOT apply.
- Previously held under moratorium from 11 June 2024 until 11 June 2026.
- DOI
- Date Created
- 2023
- Embargo Note
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