Wear Alleviation of Mechanical-Interface Introducing Composite Nanolubricants via Diffusion Effect and Atomic Disorder

The study breaks new ground by creatively exploring the blended base oils of 0W20 with PAO7 (0WP7), introducing composite aluminum/zinc nanoparticles, which offers a novel approach to lubricant formulation. In view of the intricate molecular composition of lubricants, a nanolubricant molecular dynamics model coupled with multicarbon (C20 + C30) is built. Through simulating diffusion effect, atomic disordering, and liquid–solid interaction, it uncovers microscopic mechanisms that govern lubrication, providing more in-depth understanding compared to traditional macroscopic studies. Results indicated that friction coefficient (COF) and wear scar diameter (WSD) with the composite NL lubrication were significantly reduced by approximately 36.4% and 20.3% compared with the reference. Eventually, the vital mechanism for the tribological improvement from mechanical tribology and electrostatic and interfacial science was presented.