Herein, a nanocarbon-poly(ricinoleic acid) composite as a lubricant additive with excellent oil-solubility and dispersity was synthesized using nanocarbon spheres (CNSs) and ricinoleic acid via a "one-pot" approach. The prepared composite was characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Raman spectroscopy (Raman) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that there was no obvious aggregation after surface modification of CNSs. Results demonstrated that the dispersion stability of the composite anti-wear additive in base lubricating oil was significantly optimized. The prepared nanocarbon-poly(ricinoleic acid) composite showed significantly improved stability and dispersity in base lubricating oil for 3 months without obvious precipitation. Tribological tests indicated that the composite lubricant additive exhibited an improved anti-wear performance and better wear resistance than pure CNS additives. The friction coefficients with the composite anti-wear additive dropped from 0.052 to 0.027, which was reduced by 48.1% compared with that of the TMT base lubricating oil. Furthermore, the composite additive is desirable for efficient anti-wear properties in base lubricating oil. The synergistic effect between modified CNSs and poly(ricinoleic acid) significantly improved the wear resistance of the base oil.
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