Martín Alfonso, José EnriqueMartín Alfonso, María JoséFranco Gómez, José María2024-01-222024-01-222020Martín-Alfonso, J. E., Martín-Alfonso, M. J., & Franco, J. M. (2020). Tunable rheological-tribological performance of “green” gel-like dispersions based on sepiolite and castor oil for lubricant applications. In Applied Clay Science (Vol. 192, p. 105632). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2020.1056321872-90530169-1317 (electrónico)https://hdl.handle.net/10272/22940This work has been focused on the preparation and characterization of gel-like dispersions based on sepiolite and castor oil potentially suitable as eco-friendly lubricating greases. Particularity, the effect of sepiolite content exerted on rheological, chemical, thermal and tribological properties was studied. The system exhibited a gel-like behaviour for all the concentrations considered (20–40 wt%) related to the development of a sepiolite three-dimensional colloidal network due to its characteristic nanoscale structure formed by fibers, laths and bundles. The values of both apparent viscosity and viscoelastic functions in the linear viscoelastic region increased with sepiolite content, as a consequence of a strengthening of the gel network. An empirical correlation between viscoelastic modulus and sepiolite concentration was proposed. From tribological point of view, the friction coefficient values and wear marks obtained after the frictional tests became lower when sepiolite concentrations decrease. Gel-like dispersion formulated with 30 wt% sepiolite showed appropriate rheological and tribological behaviour to be used as biolubricating greases.engAtribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 Españahttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/SepioliteVegetable oilRheological propertiesTribologyChemical propertiesjournal article10.1016/j.clay.2020.105632open access3303 Ingeniería y Tecnología Químicas