Surface-Modified Sb₂S₃ Nanoparticles and Their Tribological Behaviors in Liquid Paraffin

Abstract

Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles surface-modified with S-tetradecyl N, N-dihydroxyethyl dithiocarbamate (C₁₄DTC-Sb₂S₃) have been synthesized via extraction of Sb₂S₃ colloidal particles from ethylene glycol into toluene in the presence of C₁₄DTC. The obtained products were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR), and their tribological behaviors as an additive in liquid paraffin were investigated using a four-ball tribometer. The results show that C₁₄DTC-Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles can significantly improve the friction reduction, anti-wear, and load-carrying properties of base oils. The preliminary lubrication mechanism was discussed based on the SEM and XPS investigation of the rubbed surfaces.

Keywords:

• Additive
• antimony sulfide
• surface modification
• tribological properties

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Innovative Research Group Foundation from NSFC (Grant No. 50421502) and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (Grant No. 2007CB607601) for financial support of this project.