Effect of Soybean Biodiesel Addition on Tribological Performance of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel
The purpose of this work was to study the influence of soybean biodiesel addition in ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) on its tribological behavior under low-amplitude reciprocating conditions, simulating the operation of a fuel injector system. The methodology was divided into three parts: the first was the fuel preparation and its physicochemical characterization, where were studied four fuels (diesel, soybean biodiesel, and mixtures of them).The following step was the evaluation of the fuel tribological properties, using the high-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) test. These tests were carried out by steel ball-on-disk lubricated contact, on which the friction coefficient of friction (COF), the film percentage, and the wear scar diameter (WSD) were measured, according to ASTM D6079-11. In the end, the analysis of the damages presented on the worn disk surfaces was characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Results showed that the addition of biodiesel to ULSD is an excellent option to restore the lubricating ability of this fuel. The biodiesel incorporation reduces the friction coefficient and improves the film formation. Besides, the evaluation of worn disk surfaces using SEM and AFM techniques showed that biodiesel avoids damages to surface through protective film formation and reduces the superficial roughness.