Biomass-Derived Carbons as Friction Reducing Additives for Lubricants: Tribological Properties of Biochars and Activated Carbons Obtained from Sugar Cane Bagasse
Audrey Molza,
Philippe Bilas,
Nadiège Nomède-Martyr,
Thierry Césaire,
Christelle Yacou,
Sarra Gaspard,
Philippe Thomas
Affiliations
Audrey Molza
Groupe de Technologie des Surfaces et Interfaces (GTSI), EA 2432, Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université des Antilles, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex, France
Philippe Bilas
Groupe de Technologie des Surfaces et Interfaces (GTSI), EA 2432, Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université des Antilles, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex, France
Nadiège Nomède-Martyr
Groupe de Technologie des Surfaces et Interfaces (GTSI), EA 2432, Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université des Antilles, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex, France
Thierry Césaire
Groupe de Technologie des Surfaces et Interfaces (GTSI), EA 2432, Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université des Antilles, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex, France
Christelle Yacou
Connaissance et Valorisation: Chimie des Matériaux, Environnement, Energie (COVACHIM-M2E), EA 3592, Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université des Antilles, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex, France
Sarra Gaspard
Connaissance et Valorisation: Chimie des Matériaux, Environnement, Energie (COVACHIM-M2E), EA 3592, Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université des Antilles, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex, France
Philippe Thomas
Groupe de Technologie des Surfaces et Interfaces (GTSI), EA 2432, Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Naturelles, Université des Antilles, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre Cedex, France
Activated carbons are commonly used for adsorption/depollution applications, but only a few studies are related to their lubricating properties. In order to investigate a new family of friction reducers, the tribological properties of biochars and derived activated carbons obtained from sugar cane bagasse are investigated. Activated carbons are obtained from either a physical (steam water) or chemical (with phosphoric acid) activation process. The tribological tests show that the activated carbons present very low friction coefficients, close to 0.08. The correlation of textural and tribological investigations shows that the specific surface area of the compounds as well as the microporous and mesoporous domain extensions are key parameters to optimize the friction reduction properties of activated carbons. The friction properties of the compounds are improved if the mesoporous domain extension is above 40% of the total porous volume. This study shows that local biomass waste valorization is possible and that sugar cane bagasse-derived activated carbons appear as interesting new friction reduction additives for lubricants.
