Graphene as an additive in complex lithium grease: A comprehensive analysis of friction, wear and thermal behaviour

Abstract

This study investigates the tribological performance of graphene-enhanced complex lithium greases, focusing on friction reduction, wear resistance, and thermal stability. Various weight percentages of graphene (0.5 wt%, 0.75 wt%, 1 wt% 2 wt%) were added into the grease matrix, and their effects were evaluated through multiple experimental tests, including the four-ball wear test, thermal stability assessments and water resistance tests. The results demonstrated that lower graphene concentrations, particularly 0.5 wt%, offered the best balance of performance, providing significant reductions in friction and wear while improving thermal stability and water resistance. Higher concentrations, while improving thermal stability, exhibited diminishing returns in tribological performance due to agglomeration. This research highlights the potential of graphene as a lubricant additive for industrial applications, especially in environments requiring high thermal resistance and mechanical stability. Future work should focus on opti-mizing dispersion techniques and exploring the synergy between graphene and other nanomaterials to further enhance grease performance.

Keywords

• Graphene
• Complex lithium grease
• Friction reduction
• Wear resistance
• Thermal stability
• Tribology