Effect of tert-butylhydroquinone on tribological performance of palm oil lubricant and aluminium plate using linear reciprocating tribometer

The tribological performance of palm oil lubricants with Tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) on aluminium was investigated with palm oil PO between temperatures of 40 degrees C and 100 degrees C using Linear Reciprocating Tribometer LRT ASTM G133. TBHQ in concentrations by wt.% of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 were separately dispersed into PO to examine its effect on tribological performance, oxidation onset temperature and viscosity index. PO with 0.3 wt.% of TBHQ presented coefficients of friction COF of 0.063, 0.068, 0.083 and 0.11 at 40 degrees C, 50, 75 degrees C and 100 degrees C respectively. Also, commercial lubricant Shell T46 oil gave COF of 0.063, 0.066, 0.086.and 0.095 while the original PO without TBHQ inclusion showed COF of 0.073, 0.081, 0.095 and 0.12 under same conditions. Meanwhile, 0.3 wt.% TBHQ showed similarities with COF of T46 as a benchmark lubricant. Even though aluminium wear in PO reduced significantly at higher load and temperature due to TBHQ addition, it however showed no significant reduction effect in wear between 40 degrees C and 60 degrees C for the 60N load. Greater wear reduction under 80N load and 100 degrees C between 25% - 67% was observed. The addition of TBHQ to PO also enhanced its oxidation onset temperature upwards by 21.8% from 178.5 degrees C to 217.5 degrees C.