Oleic acid (denoted as OA) surface-capped lanthanum-doped titanium dioxide composite nanoparticles,abbreviated as OA/La-TiO2,were prepared via sol-gel method in association with surface modification by oleic acid.The microstructure of as-prepared OA/La-TiO2 was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry,and their thermal stability was evaluated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry.Moreover,the tribological properties of OA/La-TiO2 as lubricant additives in rapeseed oil were evaluated with a four-ball friction and wear tester.The morphology as well as elemental composition and chemical characteristics of worn steel surfaces was investigated by scanning electron microscopy,energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.Results showed that as-prepared OA/La-TiO2 particles were of spherical shape and had an average diameter of 20 nm.In the meantime,OA/La-TiO2 particles doped with 1.5% (molar ratio;the same hereafter) and 2.5% of lanthanum could markedly improve the anti-wear and friction-reducing capacities of rapeseed oil.This is attributed to the formation of a complex boundary lubrication film mainly composed of the oxides of iron,titanium and lanthanum as well as the formation of an adsorption film of oleic acid on steel sliding surfaces.
