Monolayer Graphene Oxide Sheets are Suitable as Additives in Water-based Lubricants

October 21, 2013

The research group from Okayama University has found that adding monolayer graphene oxide sheets into water improved lubrication. These graphene sheets were synthesized with the method Dr. Nishina developed.

The findings were published on Sep. 4, 2013 in the chemical journal Carbon.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000862231300818X

Currently, water lubrication receives a lot of attention for its environmental friendliness, safety and low cost. However, water does not work as a lubricant for stainless steel. In machining processes such as cutting and grinding, water-soluble oil-water emulsion lubricants are used. The high disposal cost of these lubricants is problematic.

H. Kinoshita and his colleagues investigated properties and applications of graphene oxide (GO) monolayer sheets as additives in water-based lubricants. The lubricating fluids were applied to a sintered tungsten carbide ball and a flat stainless steel plate. It was found that adding GO particles into water improved lubrication and provided a very low friction coefficient of approximately 0.05 with no obvious surface wear after 60,000 cycles of friction testing.

GO is environmentally friendly and easily disposed of; thus, its application as an additive in water-based lubricants is ideal. The resulting lubricating fluid could replace the water–soluble lubricants that are used in machining now.

Contact Information:
Mototaka Senda, Ph.D.
US Representative
Intellectual Property Office, Organization for Research Promotion and Collaboration, Okayama University
Fremont, California USA
TEL: 1-510-797-0907
Email: takasenda@okayama-u.ac.jp

Hiroshi Kinoshita, Ph. D.
Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama Japan