Thermal Transport and Physical Characteristics of Silver-Reinforced Biodegradable Nanolubricant
, Karla Aviña 2, Nicolás Antonio Ulloa-Castillo 3 and Dulce Viridiana Melo-Maximo 4Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In this paper, authors intend to develop ecofriendly fluids and lubricants using silver reinforced biodegradable nanolubricants based on experimental analysis. Results have been presented in terms of residual weight, temperature, SEM images and other aspects. Although the content seems good and suitable for the journal, following comments can improve the paper.
(1) Selection of silver as reinforcement material is not economically attractive. Please discuss this issue in the revised paper.
(2) An uncertainty analysis should be included.
(3) Standard error bars provided in figure 3 are not clearly visible. Please look into this issue.
(4) Thermogravimetric analysis part of the paper is weak. Please revise.
(5) Some comparison of the present results should be done with other nanomaterials.
(6) In connection with figure 4, the relation between molecular weight and stages of thermal degradation should be explained in detail.
Paper is recommended for a major revision.
Author Response
We appreciate your comments and suggestions. Author's response is attached in a PDF document.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper presents experimental results showing how the thermal properties of biolubricants can be improved when partially filled with silver nanopaticles. Results are described for filler fractions of silver nanoparticles of 0.01 to 0.20 wt %. I suspect that a 0.20 wt % concentration of nanoparticles is a bit high. However, this study has the merit of representing an effort towards the reinforcement of biolubricants, which is of fundamental importance to reduce pollution and mitigate health concerns worldwide. Therefore, I recommend publication of the manuscript in Sustainability once the authors have addressed a very minor comments:
1) In Eq. (2), the parameter beta must be defined.
2) Figure 3 shows that the effective thermal conductivity increases up to 30 to 33 when a filler fraction of 0.20 wt % is employed at 60°C. If I have understood, Brownian motion of the nanoparticles is claimed as the cause of the enhanced conductivity. Could the authors explain a bit more how Brownian motion is effectively improving the thermal conductivity performance? I understand that by increasing the temperature, the Brownian velocity also increases. Could there be some other thermodynamic effect working?
3) On page 7, line 264 I think the authors mean "derivative".
4) In Figures 5 and 6 the residual weight and the conversion in percent are depicted only for a 0.1 wt %. Could the authors explain the differences in these curves when the filler fraction of nanoparticles is lowered to 0.05 wt % and increased to 0.20 wt %?
Author Response
We appreciate your comments and suggestions. Author's response is attached in a PDF document.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
1. It would be helpful if the novelty of the research is expressed after the initial introduction in the Abstract.
2. There is some information in the 1st paragraph of Introduction without any referencing.
3. The 1st few paragraphs of Introduction seems to be redundant information and unnecessary for this research. Introduction should present the recent development, theoretical and experimental, in this specific field, rather than presenting a global knowledge of the field.
4. The outcome of this experiment is expected to be some correlations to summarise the findings. Only a few mass fractions of the nano particles were used, which makes it difficult to reach conclusive results. Further tests are required and a correlation should be developed.
Acceptable with minor revision
Author Response
We appreciate your comments and suggestions. Author's response is attached in a PDF document.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Review Comments for Manuscript Number: sustainability-2391049-peer-review-v1
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Title: |
Thermal Transport and Physical Characteristics of Silver Reinforced Biodegradable Nanolubricant |
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Journal: |
sustainability MDPI |
An evaluation of the thermal transport behavior of biodegradable lubricants reinforced with silver nanostructures (AgNs) at various filler fractions is presented in this study. According to the results, the thermal conductivity increased as the concentration of AgNs increased. There was a gradual improvement in the biodegradable lubricant, which was attributed to the interaction between nanostructures.
The findings of this study are useful and interesting to researchers and practitioners in the field. There are some minor points I would like to mention before recommending it.
1. The abstract must be revised carefully. I don’t det the meaning in Lines 21, and 22.
2. Add one or two sentences to abstract to show the research background or motivation.
3. Add another related keyword.
4. Major English revision is required.
5. Expand section 2. More information is needed.
6. In the author point of view, is there any other materials rather than AgNs could have the same potential?
7. There is no need for many (). Use wording instead of it such as: as shown in Figure, Table … etc.
8. Gove a brief two to three sentences presenting the main reason beyond increasing the thermal conductivity with increasing the temperature as presented in Figure 3. Make the explanation based on the physical/chemical basics.
9. Will this technology be applicable with water i.e., using it in electronics liquid cooling?
10. Remove the discussion part from the conclusion and add it to the results and discussion part.
11. Shorten your conclusion.
12. Add a graph showing a comparison between the results presenting in this study and prior art.
Major English revision is required.
Author Response
We appreciate your comments and suggestions. Author's response is attached in a PDF document.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Revisions are fine.
Reviewer 3 Report
It looks fine
