INFLUENCE OF A COMMERCIAL CERAMIC ADDITIVE ON THE RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF 0W30 AND 10W60 LUBRICATING OILS

This study evaluates the influence of a commercial ceramic additive on the rheological behavior and chemical structure of two multigrade lubricating oils: 0W30 and 10W60. The research focuses on analyzing flow and viscosity curves under varying temperatures and additive concentrations. Furthermore, a comprehensive chemical and structural characterization of the formulation—both in its pure and modified states—was conducted via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR).

For the experimental phase, formulations were prepared with additive volumetric concentrations of 3% and 6% v/v. The mixtures were homogenized using magnetic stirring for one hour and subsequently sonicated for fifteen minutes to optimize particle dispersion within the oil matrix. Rheological characterization was performed using a rotational rheometer with a cone-plate geometry, spanning a temperature range from 20 °C to 160 °C at 20 °C intervals. The analysis assesses the impact of temperature, additive dosage, and base oil type on flow resistance, while determining whether the suspensions maintain a Newtonian profile or exhibit deviations due to the dispersed solid phase.

The experimental results demonstrate that both oils, in their pure and additived states, retain a strictly Newtonian behavior. Temperature and additive concentration proved to be the governing parameters of the system's rheology: the ceramic compound successfully increases the kinematic viscosity in both lubricants, whereas rising temperatures induce the expected viscosity decrease. In conclusion, these findings provide a valuable comparative assessment of both multigrade formulations, validating the effect of the ceramic additive on their thermal stability and viscous performance.