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breakdown voltage, various studies demonstrated that higher concentrations of nanoparticles in greases/ lubricants resulted in an increase in breakdown voltage, therefore, enhancing the insulation properties of greases. After testing various greases, synthetic ester-based greases were found to obtain the greatest enhancement in breakdown voltage. In addition, the tribological studies highlighted the potential application of nanoparticles through tests to find a reduction in coefficient of friction and reduction in wear width/diameter. Both nano-SiO2
and nano-TiO2
exhibited notable reduction in friction coefficient, thus leading to smoother operation and wear of the application site. The same is concluded with wear width/diameter, with nano-enhanced greases showing significant decrease in wear scarring. All the findings suggest that nano-enhanced dielectric greases and lubricants have the potential to address the demands of EV vehicles, offering enhanced insulation, reduced friction, and improved longevity of components which all correlate to the efficiency of a car. Further research into optimisation strategies and real-world testing is crucial in realising the potential of the application of nano-enhanced greases in EV systems.
It is important to consider the environmental impact of novel designs for grease-related applications. A main focus of future research on nanotechnology and greases should be on the nanoparticles compatibility with the environment, and their proper disposal at the end of greases lifetime. Another interesting area of research is on the reactivity of nano-enhanced greases on metals and its corrosion-related effects, especially if nanoparticles will be utilised in industrial applications.
About the authors Dr. Raj Shah serves in the role of Director at Koehler Instrument Company in New York, boasting an impressive 28-year tenure with the organisation. Recognised as a Fellow by eminent organisations such as IChemE, CMI, STLE, AIC, NLGI, INSTMC, Institute of Physics, The Energy Institute, and The Royal Society of Chemistry, he stands as a distinguished recipient of the ASTM Eagle award. Dr. Shah, a luminary in the field, recently coedited the highly acclaimed “Fuels and Lubricants Handbook,” a bestseller that unravels industry insights. Explore the intricacies at ASTM’s Long-Awaited Fuels and Lubricants Handbook 2nd Edition Now Available (
https://bit.ly/3u2e6G). His academic journey includes a doctorate in Chemical
20 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.186 APRIL 2025
Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, complemented by the title of Fellow from The Chartered Management Institute, London. Dr. Shah holds the esteemed status of a Chartered Scientist with the Science Council, a Chartered Petroleum Engineer with the Energy Institute, and a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council, UK.
Recently honoured as “Eminent Engineer” by Tau Beta Pi, the largest engineering society in the USA, Dr. Shah serves on the Advisory Board of Directors at Farmingdale University (Mechanical Technology), Auburn University (Tribology), SUNY Farmingdale (Engineering Management), and the State University of NY, Stony Brook (Chemical Engineering/Material Science and Engineering). In tandem with his role as an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, in the Department of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Dr. Shah’s impact spans over three decades in the energy industry, with a prolific portfolio of over 650 publications. Dive deeper into Dr. Raj Shah’s journey at https://bit. ly/3QvfaLX.
For further correspondence, reach out to Dr. Shah at
rshah@koehlerinstrument.com.
Dr. Stefanos (Steve) Nitodas is a chemical engineer by training and the holder of a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester, New York. He has been a member of the Faculty of the Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University, NY, since 2018. He teaches core chemical engineering courses, including process control, reaction engineering and separation processes. Prior to Stony Brook University, he worked for more than 12 years in the industry as R&D Director and also as Industrial Business Development Manager, starting in the microelectronics sector and then continuing in the nanotechnology industry.
His expertise lies in reaction engineering, advanced process control and novel nanomaterials development through catalytic processes, as well as in the synthesis and applications of nanostructured carbon and polymer nanocomposites.
Dr. Nitodas possesses significant know-how related to the transfer of knowledge from academia to industry
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