In oil lubrication systems, it is essential to continuously supply lubricant to the contact surface during practical applications. Herein, to realize its long-term stable dispersion in oil, graphene oxide was modified with polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBS, trade name T154), which is an effective dispersant for lubricating oils. Characterization of the T154-modified graphene oxide (GO-T154) by FTIR, XPS, and XRD revealed that the surface of the graphene platelets was covered by the T154 chains, and the dimensions of the graphene platelets had obviously decreased. The dispersion study demonstrated the long-term stability of a GO-T154/oil suspension, which could stand for more than a year without any significant precipitation. The lubricating property was greatly improved by the addition of GO-T154; more specifically, for the optimal performance, the friction coefficient decreased by 54%, and the wear rate decreased by 60%. Micro observation of the worn surfaces indicated that well-dispersed GO-T154 could enter the gap between the friction surfaces, forming a transfer film to separate the rubbing surface. With the long-term stability, high thermal stability and outstanding tribological properties of the suspension, GO-T154 promises to realize practical applications of graphene in lubricating oil.
This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.