Advancements in Environmentally Friendly Lubricant Technologies: Towards Sustainable Performance and Efficiency

The advancement of next-generation lubricants is pivotal for enhancing energy efficiency and mitigating environmental impacts across diverse industrial applications. This review systematically examines recent developments in lubricant technologies, with a particular focus on sustainable strategies i...

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Main Authors: Iwona Wilińska, Sabina Wilkanowicz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4006
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author Iwona Wilińska
Sabina Wilkanowicz
author_facet Iwona Wilińska
Sabina Wilkanowicz
author_sort Iwona Wilińska
collection DOAJ
description The advancement of next-generation lubricants is pivotal for enhancing energy efficiency and mitigating environmental impacts across diverse industrial applications. This review systematically examines recent developments in lubricant technologies, with a particular focus on sustainable strategies incorporating bio-based feedstocks, nanostructured additives, and hybrid formulations. These innovations are designed to reduce friction and wear, decrease energy consumption, and prolong the operational lifespan of mechanical systems. A critical assessment of tribological behavior, environmental compatibility, and functional performance is presented. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into lubricant formulation and performance prediction is explored, highlighting its potential to accelerate development cycles and enable application-specific optimization through data-driven approaches. The findings emphasize the strategic role of eco-innovative lubricants in supporting low-carbon technologies and facilitating the transition toward sustainable energy systems.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Energies
spelling doaj-art-cb70d5220a5a4898bfbd41d2f8b18eda2025-08-20T04:00:49ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-07-011815400610.3390/en18154006Advancements in Environmentally Friendly Lubricant Technologies: Towards Sustainable Performance and EfficiencyIwona Wilińska0Sabina Wilkanowicz1Faculty of Civil Engineering, Mechanics and Petrochemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 09-400 Plock, PolandFaculty of Civil Engineering, Mechanics and Petrochemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, 09-400 Plock, PolandThe advancement of next-generation lubricants is pivotal for enhancing energy efficiency and mitigating environmental impacts across diverse industrial applications. This review systematically examines recent developments in lubricant technologies, with a particular focus on sustainable strategies incorporating bio-based feedstocks, nanostructured additives, and hybrid formulations. These innovations are designed to reduce friction and wear, decrease energy consumption, and prolong the operational lifespan of mechanical systems. A critical assessment of tribological behavior, environmental compatibility, and functional performance is presented. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into lubricant formulation and performance prediction is explored, highlighting its potential to accelerate development cycles and enable application-specific optimization through data-driven approaches. The findings emphasize the strategic role of eco-innovative lubricants in supporting low-carbon technologies and facilitating the transition toward sustainable energy systems.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4006biolubricantsnanolubricantsvegetable oilWCOtribologyAI
spellingShingle Iwona Wilińska
Sabina Wilkanowicz
Advancements in Environmentally Friendly Lubricant Technologies: Towards Sustainable Performance and Efficiency
Energies
biolubricants
nanolubricants
vegetable oil
WCO
tribology
AI
title Advancements in Environmentally Friendly Lubricant Technologies: Towards Sustainable Performance and Efficiency
title_full Advancements in Environmentally Friendly Lubricant Technologies: Towards Sustainable Performance and Efficiency
title_fullStr Advancements in Environmentally Friendly Lubricant Technologies: Towards Sustainable Performance and Efficiency
title_full_unstemmed Advancements in Environmentally Friendly Lubricant Technologies: Towards Sustainable Performance and Efficiency
title_short Advancements in Environmentally Friendly Lubricant Technologies: Towards Sustainable Performance and Efficiency
title_sort advancements in environmentally friendly lubricant technologies towards sustainable performance and efficiency
topic biolubricants
nanolubricants
vegetable oil
WCO
tribology
AI
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4006
work_keys_str_mv AT iwonawilinska advancementsinenvironmentallyfriendlylubricanttechnologiestowardssustainableperformanceandefficiency
AT sabinawilkanowicz advancementsinenvironmentallyfriendlylubricanttechnologiestowardssustainableperformanceandefficiency