Mineral oil lubricants protect engine parts from wear, and this effect is enhanced by adding polymer nanoparticles to the lubricating oil. A UK team has now discovered that epoxy functionalization of these nanoparticles further promotes friction reduction on metal surfaces.
Graphical Abstract. Introduction of epoxy groups into sterically-stabilized diblock copolymer nanoparticles leads to their efficient chemical adsorption onto stainless steel whereas the corresponding non-functional nanoparticles merely undergo physical adsorption. Significantly greater adsorption occurs when the epoxy groups are placed within the steric stabilizer chains, which leads to enhanced lubrication in tribology studies. Credit: Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2023). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202218397 As the team reports in the journal Angewandte Chemie, nanoparticles containing epoxy groups adhere strongly to stainless steel surfaces, which leads to a significant reduction in friction. Automotive engines comprising well lubricated parts consume less fuel, produce lower emissions, and suffer less long-term wear. Mineral oil is widely used as a…