September 1, 2015 – A new hybrid lubricant additive discovered by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Shell Global Solutions shows tremendous promise for improving energy efficiency and durability of the nation’s 250 million cars and trucks. The research team, led by Jun Qu, recently reported on synergistic effects between ORNL-invented ionic liquids and a lubricant additive. With a treat rate of about 1 percent in a base oil, the hybrid lubricant additive demonstrated reductions in friction and wear by 30 percent and 70 percent, respectively. Characterizations revealed a significantly higher-than-nominal additive concentration at the lubricant interface, which researchers believe is responsible for the superior lubricating behavior. The results are published in Advanced Materials (http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201502037).
Oak Ridge National Laboratory