A boron-based additive makes motor oil more slippery, according to the Argonne National Laboratory. Boric acid particles can reduce friction between engine parts in an automobile and thus reduce metal wear.
In 1991, scientist Ali Erdemir discovered that boric acid could make surfaces slicker than Teflon. He also found that reducing the boric acid to nanoparticles enhanced this quality by staying in suspension in motor oil rather than separating.
Reducing friction reduces the amount of energy lost as heat and results in up to a 5 percent decrease in fuel consumption. Furthermore, boric acid is cheap to make and is neither a hazardous or toxic material.
Some commercial motor oils with boron-derived nanoparticles are available. Erdemir expects such particles will have wider applications in other industries, including medicine, aviation and air conditioning.
