Citation :

Rushikesh Shirish Pande, Bhanudas Dattatraya Bachchhav, "Tribological Performance and Oil Film Strength of MoO₃ Nano-Additized Jatropha Oil Under Boundary Lubrication Conditions," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 13, no. 7, pp. 156-163, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V13I7P113

Abstract

Due to growing environmental concerns and the depletion of petroleum resources, there is a rising demand for sustainable and biodegradable lubricants. This study examines the tribological performance of Jatropha oil enhanced with molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) nanoparticles under boundary lubrication conditions. MoO₃ nanoparticles with size ranges of 20–30 nm, 50–60 nm, and 80–90 nm were dispersed into crude Jatropha oil at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% by weight. The lubricants were tested using a four-ball tribotester, and a Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was employed to analyze the influence of nanoparticle size, concentration, load, and speed on wear behavior and oil film strength. The results revealed that additive size is the most influential parameter, followed by load, speed, and concentration. The optimal performance was achieved with 80–90 nm MoO₃ nanoparticles at 1.0 wt.% concentration, 392 N load, and 400 rpm speed. Under these conditions, a significant reduction in wear scar diameter and an increase in oil film strength were observed, attributed to the formation of a stable Mo–O–Fe tribofilm. SEM analysis confirmed smoother worn surfaces and reduced abrasive wear at this composition. The study concludes that MoO₃ nanoparticles significantly enhance the load-bearing capacity, wear resistance, and film strength of Jatropha oil, making it a promising eco-friendly alternative to conventional mineral-based lubricants.

Keywords

Jatropha oil, MoO₃, Nano-particles, Oil Film Strength, Wear Scar Diameter.

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