ABSTRACT
Sodium stearate coated copper nanoparticles were synthesized in water medium through the chemical reduction method. The morphology, structure and thermal properties of coated Cu nanoparticles were investigated with transmission electron microscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis. Their tribological behaviors were evaluated on a four-ball test machine. The results show that the sodium stearate coated Cu nanoparticles exhibit a uniform particle size distribution and have a size in the range of 5-10 nm, and the coated Cu nanoparticles as oil additives can improve the load-carrying capacity and tribological property of the base oil.
