Multi-Criteria Analysis and Comparison of Tribotechnical and Physical and Mechanical Properties of Vegetable Oils for Selecting the Base of Lubricants

A multi-criteria approach to the comprehensive analysis of the tribotechnical characteristics and physical-mechanical properties of vegetable oils is proposed for their comparison and selection as a base for lubricants. The study investigated refined rapeseed oil (RR) and technical rapeseed oil (RT), technical castor oil (CT), unrefined linseed oil (LO), and refined sunflower oil (SO). An assessment was conducted of their fatty acid composition, viscosity index, flash and pour points, oxidative stability, friction coefficient, wear scar diameter, critical load, and welding load. The analyzed objects were represented as points in a multidimensional space of their normalized physical and mechanical properties and tribotechnical characteristics. An integral criterion for comparing oils is proposed as a measure of distance from a hypothetically worst sample, which allowed for the ranking of oils by their suitability as a lubricant base (from best to worst): RT, LO, CT, RR, SO. The position of the oils in the space of principal components was determined, and the directions and magnitudes of the loading vectors for the oil characteristics were established. A correlation between physical and mechanical properties and tribotechnical characteristics was revealed, allowing these indicators to be linked to the features of the oils fatty acid composition. Based on the analysis of the sample arrangement in the principal component space, a conclusion was drawn about the promise of creating a composition from RT, CT, and LO oils, with a potential synergistic effect for improving load-bearing capacity, oxidative stability, and viscosity-temperature properties.

The results obtained can be used for the development of effective biodegradable lubricants from vegetable raw materials.

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