Synthesis and characterisation of nano calcium molybdate and evaluation of its tribological behaviour in palm oil

Nanostructured calcium molybdate (CaMoO 4 ), which exhibits a tetragonal sheelite - type crystal structure ,has garnered significant interest due to its unique structural, optical, mechanical, and catalytic properties at the nano scale. In this study, nano structured CaMoO 4 of an average particle size 19nm is synthesized successfully by the coprecipitation method. Its structural, morphological, and thermal properties have been studied by various spectroscopic techniques such as XRD, FTIR, Raman spectrum, HRTEM, and TGA . A four - ball tester is used to analyse the tribological properties of palm oil in which nano structured CaMoO 4 is added. The combination of these nanoparticles in palm oil leads to a 13% decrease in wear scar diameter and 19% decrease in coefficient of friction, with the optimum concentration being 0.05wt% in palm oil. This enhancement possibly may be due to the rolling, mending, and polishing effects of the nanoparticles, as well as the formation of a protective tribo-film. These findings suggest that calcium molybdate nanoparticles can effectively improve the tribological performance of palm oil, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based lubricants while maintaining the beneficial properties of vegetable oils. • Synthesized nano CaMoO 4 of tetragonal sheelite structure. • Nano CaMoO 4 is used as an effective additive in ecofriendly palm oil. • Coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter fell by 19% and 13%, respectively.