Let say I have a pure lubricant A and its viscosity is mu0 and another lubricant B with viscosity mu1.
If I used a Nanoparticle and mix it with lubricant A for a specific particle concentration then I would get the viscosity of lubricant B.
My question is, which lubricant is better to use (from cost, properties and quality points of view) the lubricant B or lubricant A with Nanoparticles?
Journal bearings are expeted to work under hydrdynamic regime, meaning that 1) a full liquid film separates the surfaces and 2) viscosity of the lubricant is the key factor. The mean gap between the surfaces is generally of approx. 10 µm, so if you really want to use nanoparticles its feasable.
Actually I don't see the interest/purpose to add these nanoparticles in fluid A, I would rather use lubricant B instead : it is certainly cheaper, with more adequate properties (more stable, simpler rheological behavior, no contamination, ...)
Which is the lubricant application? May be in machining processes?
Excuse me Sir, but I recomend to you make an experiment, for example with pin-on disk testing using each lubricant. The pin can be manufactured with axis material and the disk with the bearing material.
The experimental test can be answer your question with precision.
Journal bearings are expeted to work under hydrdynamic regime, meaning that 1) a full liquid film separates the surfaces and 2) viscosity of the lubricant is the key factor. The mean gap between the surfaces is generally of approx. 10 µm, so if you really want to use nanoparticles its feasable.
Actually I don't see the interest/purpose to add these nanoparticles in fluid A, I would rather use lubricant B instead : it is certainly cheaper, with more adequate properties (more stable, simpler rheological behavior, no contamination, ...)
As Philippe Vergne points out above, a journal bearing is intended to work (optimally) under a full-film-thickness hydrodynamic regime. But, it never does consistently. Eventually, the journal bearings wear.
Addition of nanoparticles in this application is tricky. Soft metal journal bearing surfaces are not particularly amenable to abrasive nanoparticles. Further, I would not use any lubricant with an AW/EP additive that is capable of precipitating carbide onto the metal surface. The addition of graphene nanoparticles to the lubricant would be my choice under the circumstances.
It's not a matter of lubricant cost, if you can provide near unlimited life to the journal bearings.
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