Scientists have demonstrated, for the first time, the use of borophene, a 2D nanomaterial, as a high-performance lubricant additive in castor oil. The research was conducted by a team from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati.
Key Points
Castor oil was used as the lubricant because it is renewable, biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Borophene, an atomically thin sheet of boron, was added to castor oil. Only 0.1 wt.% borophene was sufficient to significantly enhance the lubrication performance.
The borophene–castor oil combination reduced friction by approximately 42% compared with pure castor oil.
The research demonstrates the potential to develop a high-performance bio-lubricant by combining renewable castor oil with borophene.
Industrial Problem Addressed: Friction and wear are major causes of energy loss, machinery degradation, equipment failure and reduced operational efficiency.
Potential Applications:
- Renewable energy systems
- Marine applications
- Green lubrication technologies
- Sustainable manufacturing
- Energy-efficient machinery
Potential Benefits:
- Improved energy efficiency
- Reduced friction and wear
- Longer machinery lifespan
- Promotion of sustainable manufacturing
- Reduced dependence on conventional petroleum-based lubricants
Key Properties of Borophene:
- Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial
- Atomically thin boron sheet
- Exceptional polymorphism
- Metallic conductivity
- Anisotropic mechanical behaviour
Source: DST
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