Study on the Tribological Behaviors of N,N-dioctyldithiocarbamate Monolayer-Stabilized Copper Nanoparticles in Liquid Paraffin

Abstract

Copper nanoparticles surface-modified with self-assembled monolayers of N,N-dioctyldithiocarbamate (S₂CNR₂, R = n-octyl) have been prepared in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The trobological behaviors of the S₂CNR₂-coated copper nanoparticles as an additive in liquid paraffin are investigated using a block-on-ring tribometer. The results indicate that copper nanoparticles as additive in liquid paraffin are capable to greatly reduce the friction coefficient and wear rate of the steels counterparts even at an extremely low concentration. The tribochemically reacted films with Cu, FeS, Fe₂O₃, and SO₄ ²⁻ formed during the friction process are contributed to the good tribological properties of the S₂CNR₂-coated copper nanoparticles as additive in liquid paraffin.

Keywords:

• Additive
• copper nanoparticles
• dispersion
• tribological properties

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Innovative Group Foundation from NSFC (Grant No. 50421502) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50575217) for financial support of this project.