Homogeneous synthesis of cellulose fatty esters in ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) and study of their comparative antifriction property

Cellulose fatty esters with different fatty acids as lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic and oleic acid having same degrees of substitution (DS ∼ 2.0) were prepared homogeneously using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mim]+Cl−). All samples were characterized by IR and NMR. The triboevaluation in terms of average friction coefficient was done by nanotribometer using 3000 ppm solution of each ester in polyol (pentaerythritol tetraoleate) which is taken as biolube reference fluid. The cellulose esters are found to show antifriction character in the order as myristate > palmitate > laurate > stearate > oleate.