Experimental Analysis of Tribological Properties of Simarouba Glauca Biodiesel With Nanoparticles

Introduction

Due to the shortage of energy, currently many countries have strengthened research on the generation of non-conventional sources of energy. Presently, biodiesels produced from biomass have proved as one of the most attractive option to the conventional diesel fuel. The advantages of biofuels are abundance of raw materials from which the biodiesels can be prepared. Also, carbon neutrality can be tailored to these fuels. The constituents of such biodiesels are alcohols, carboxylic acids, ketones, aldehydes and phenols. The methods of production of biodiesels include transesterification, pyrolysis and micro emulsification (Jo-Han, Hoon Kiat, & Gan, 2010). The application of biodiesels in IC engines has shown enhancements in performance, combustion and emission characteristics. Biofuels exhibit very good lubricity (Qiongjie, Yufu, & Xifeng, 2008). This enhances the durability of engine components especially fuel injection equipment and high-pressure fuel pumps (Fazal, Haseeb, & Masjuki, 2013). Some biodiesels have exhibited better tribological properties than that of the traditional diesels. But others manifest poor wear characteristics due to surface degradation and corrosion. This may cause non tolerable damage to engine components which narrows down the application fields of the biodiesels. This demands friction characterization of different biodiesels and trials of new additives to cope with the problems cited above. Also, some new biodiesels need to be tried in this context.