Friction and wear characteristics of tire pyrolysis oil

The demand for alternative fuels has seen an exponential rise due to increased fuel prices and environmental impacts. In addition to being a source of energy, these are also frequently used as a lubricant due to their plentiful availability and low cost. Using the four-ball tester, this research investigates the wear and friction properties of waste tire pyrolysis oil (WTPO) as a lubricant. The tribological characteristics were compared with the diesel and biodiesel fuel. The experiment was performed on ASTM D2266 standard during 3600 s on a load of 40 kg, constant speed of 1200 rpm and with a temperature of 27 °C for all fuels. The wear scar diameter was calculated using an optical microscope and then examined through a scanning electron microscope. The coefficient of friction of WTPO is 22.3% and 10.6% lower than the diesel and biodiesel fuel, respectively. The surface morphology of the WTPO displays the smaller worn surfaces than the biodiesel fuel. Overall, the tribological performance of WTPO as a lubricant is observed to be better than the other samples due to its low coefficient of friction and worn surfaces.