Comparing physical and chemical properties of soot from laboratory tests and heavy-duty engines used in field operations

Pacino, Andrea; La Rocca, Antonino; Smith, Joshua; Berryman, Jacqueline; Fowell, Mark; Cairns, Alasdair; Fay, Michael W.

Abstract

Morphology, nanostructure, and composition of soot extracted from the oil sump of different heavy-duty engines operated under dynamometer and field conditions were investigated. Soot characteristics were then compared to a carbon black sample. Soot was extracted from used oil for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis. Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were also performed to assess soot composition. Two soot classes, I and II, can be identified based on their appearance under the TEM. Carbon black and class I particles have graphitic structures, while class II samples have a more sludge-like appearance. Similar aggregate sizes were observed among the samples. In all samples, the primary particle size distribution ranges from 16 nm to 22 nm in terms of mean diameter. Differences in the length and tortuosity of the graphitic fringes between the samples were observed. The findings suggest a greater degree of interaction between class II samples and the lubricating oil, and consequently, a different wear behaviour may be expected depending on the specific soot characteristics.

Citation

Pacino, A., La Rocca, A., Smith, J., Berryman, J., Fowell, M., Cairns, A., & Fay, M. W. (2024). Comparing physical and chemical properties of soot from laboratory tests and heavy-duty engines used in field operations. SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants, 18(1), Article 04-18-01-0002. https://doi.org/10.4271/04-18-01-0002

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 21, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Aug 2, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 2, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 25, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 3, 2025
• Journal: SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants
• Electronic ISSN: 1946-3960
• Publisher: SAE International
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 04-18-01-0002
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4271/04-18-01-0002
• Keywords: Diesel engine; soot-in-oil; transmission electron microscopy (TEM); nanostructure; morphology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/37599931