Uniform Polyester-Based Nanoparticles Assembled via Living Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly as Friction-Reducing Agents in Engine Oil
Cinzia Clamor, Simon D. Dale, James Beament, Elizabeth Mould, Rachel K. O’Reilly, Andrew P. Dove
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Developing new friction modifiers with enhanced green credentials for the automotive industry is imperative to reduce man-made global warming. Recently, polymer-based particles have been of great interest for this application; however, control over their dimensions in different vectors has been limited. We report the crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) of block copolymers in nonpolar and oil solvents, where both blocks contain an ester moiety in the backbone. Cylindrical micelles of controlled lengths were accessed via a living CDSA method, which, when transferred into a base oil, reduced the friction coefficient of the oil. Herein, we established a dimension-friction modification relationship using cylindrical polyester-based particles, which outperformed commonly used lubricants.