University of Maiduguri Faculty of Engineering Seminar Series Volume 6, december 2015

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1 University of Maiduguri Faculty of Engineering Seminar Series Volume 6, december 2015 ASSESSMENT OF NEEM SEED OIL FOR USE AS BRAKE FLUID I.S. Aji, S.A. Abdulrahman and O.V. Odigwe Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maiduguri Abstract Production of neem seed oil and the evaluation for suitability as brake fluid was carried out in this work. The physical properties of the fluid which influences its use such as relative density, g/m 3, and flash point, C was found to be slightly lower than the range given by the SAE standard for brake fluid, while the pour point value of C obtained is an indication that Neem seed oil has better freezing properties and saponification characteristics. Average values of the viscosity is Ns/m 2 and ph value is Neem seed oil is less prone to attack system components and can effetively be used in winter and tropical regions within the permissible limit of optimum range of viscosity given between 21.8 and 25 as specified by the Society for Automotive Engineers. This research work has successfully established that Neem seed oil can be use as base oil for the production of brake fluid for use as hydraulic fluid in hydraulic brake and hydraulic clutch applications. 1.0 Introduction The hydraulic fluid is the working fluid which entirely makes the hydraulic brake system operate, hence the transmission of power and pressure is easily achived with the use of brake fluid. Brake fluid is a type of hydraulic fluid used in hydraulic brake and hydraulic clutch system of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and some bicycles. It is used to transfer force into pressure and amplify braking forces which works because liquid are not appreciably compressible, hence, bulk forces are directly transferred to compress the fluids chemical bonds. The brake is a device by means of which frictional resistance is applied to a moving machine component in order to retard or stop the motion of the moving system. The brake uses friction between the brake-shoes and drums to convert the kinetic energy developed by the vehicle into heat energy. When the brake is applied, kinetic energy between the brake pad or shoes and the brake disc or drum is converted to thermal energy via friction and this process brings a moving machine to rest in a controlled manner. Several components makes up the brake system of an automobile such as the brake-shoe, serphon, connecting tubes and master cylinder. The hydraulic fluid is the working fluid which entirely makes the hydralic brake system operate, hence transmission of power and pressure is easily achived with the use of brake fluid. Because of the important of the brake fluid in the hydraulic brake system, it is important to use only fluids which has been properly designed and meets standard requirements. The properties taken into considerations are; specific density, viscosity, PH value, flash point, pour point and boiling points the most commonly used fluid for hydraulic brakes is the petroleum fluid ( O Connor et. al., 1968). Most brake fluids used today are glycol-ester based (Eterigho and Edoga 2002). Other base oil have been designed and used in the production of hydraulic fluid, these includes Liquid Hydraulic Seminar Series Volume 6, 2015 Page 53

2 Mineral (LHM) and Silicon which are mineral oil based. Standard regulations and specification for brake fluids are provided based on the basic component by the SAE (Society for Automotive Engineers), ISO (International standard Oraganization), FMVSS (US Fedreal Motor Vehicle Safety) and JIS (Japan Industrial standard). The DOT (US, Department of Transport) classifications of brake fluid which is the most widely used is also based on the base oil and application, and are given as DOT 3 and DOT 4. According to the SAE specifications, DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 are polythylene glycol based and DOT 5 is Silicon based. These classifications broadly reflects the concerns addressed by the Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE) specifications, with local details (DOT, 1988). Table 1 shows the characteristics of the common braking fluid. Table 1: Characteristics of Common Braking Fluids Classification Dry Boiling o C Wet Boiling o C Viscousity limit Primary constituents mm 2 /s DOT Castor oil/ Alcohol DOT Glycol Ether DOT Glycol Ether/ Borate Ester LHM Mineral oil DOT Silicon DOT Glycol Ether/ Borate Ester Wet boiling point defined as 3.7% water by volume Source:DOT,(2013),http// automotive-brake- fluid. In:en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ brake_ fluid. Alternative oils to glycol-ester based for the production of hydraulic fluid, such as castor oil has been formulated (Eterigho and Edoga 2002). Other possible souces include ground nut oil, cotton seed oil, and neem seed oil which can be produced in Nigeria. The research work presented in this paper deals with the production of neem seed oil as an alternative source for brake fluid production. Neem is one of the most versatile multipurpose trees with immense potentials found in the tropics (Brahmahari, 2004). It has other useful non-wood products which can be obtained from its leaves, bark, fruits, seeds. It is an evergreen tree that is well adapted to stress conditions with the ability to resprout after cutting and to regrow it canopy after pollarding (Udapa, 2014). The neem tree is predominantly found in the northern part of the country in Nigeria. Seminar Series, Volume 6, 2015 Page 54

3 2.0 Materials and Method 2.1 Extraction and Characteristics of Neem Seed Oil The neem seed oil was extracted manually using the traditional method which involved shelling the outer cover of the seed, cleaning by winnowing to separate the shell and other unwanted material from the kernels and this is followed by crushing the kernel using the pestle and mortal. Warm water was then added to the grounded neem seeds and continously stirred untill liquid oil of the seed is formed, and float on the surface. The Neem oil was then skimmed off and stored in a plastic bottle. Neem oil is dark in colour and has an odour of garlic, the properties of neem oil obtained are presented in table 3.1 and 3.2 respectively. Neem seed oil is soft, slippery to touch, and is semi-solid at room temperature which easily melted on contact with skin. The fatty acid components were determined using gas chromotography and microelements were determine by neutron activation analysis using miniature neutron source reactor located at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Zaria. 2.2 Controlled Lubricant The controlling parameter in the use of Neem seed oil as hydraulic brake fluid includes; relative density, viscousity, flash point, pour point and ph value (SAE., 1992). The SAE specifications and compositions for standard hydraulic fluid was used as controled lubricant in the testing of the brake fuid. The metanoic acid and fatty acid composition of the neem seed oil serves as anti-oxidant and anti-corrosion agent. In addition, an important characteristic of hydraulic fluid is the ready separation of air or gases without excessive foaming, which is also one of the quality of the Neem seed oil. 3.0 Results and Discussion Table 2 shows the comparison between the properties of neem seed oil obtained and the standard values as given by the Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE, 1992). While, table 3 shows the comparison between the properties of the extracted neem oil and other literature values. Table 2: Properties of Neem seed oil extract and the SAE standards for brake fluid Samples Average Relative Density (g/m 3 ) Viscosity (N.s/m 2 ) Boiling ( o C) ph value Flash ( o C) Pour o C o C -49 o C Standard o C o C -40 o C Seminar Series, Volume 6, 2015 Page 55

4 Table 3: Comparison between properties of Extracted Neem seed oil and literature values Property Literature Expt. Sample Odour Garlic Garlic Specific gravity at 30 o C Refractive index at 30 C ph Iodine value (g/g) Acid (mg KOH/g) Saponification value (mg KOH/g) Source: Neemuses.com, (Workneh, W. 2011, Kovo A.S., 2008). From table 2, it is observed that the relative density of the Neem oil brake fluid falls short by g/m 3 when compared with DOT standard has better values interms of the viscousity, ph value and pour point, Neem seed oil is less prone to attack system component, has better freezing properties and saponification characteristics. The hydraulic fluid can effetively be used in winter and tropical regions within the permissible limit of optimum range of viscosity between 21.8 and 25 as specified by SAE (Society for Automotive Engineers). The formulated brake fluid gives Therefore, the viscosity of brake fluid may be considered viable due to slight in difference with the standard. In addition, the properties of the neem seed oil presented and compared with other values from literature in table 3, which are in close agreement is an indication that the extracted neem seed oil is a true sample representation. 4.0 Conclusion Hydraulic brake fluid from neem seed oil has been demostrated to have satisfactory performance interms of its properties. The results obtained shows that the brake fluid produced falls within the acceptable range of some of the SAE specifications. An upgrade which can be attained by an introduction of additives/inhibitors will further enhanced its applicability and adequacy for use as brake fluid. The brake fluid from neem seed oil is recommended for use in automobile to test its efficacy and further research is also advice in orther to improve on its properties by designing a propoer brake formulation which will further improve its applicability References Brahmahari G., (2004) Neem An Ominipotent Plant: A Retrospection. ChemBioChem, , Doi /cbic April 2, Chopra R. Njer S.L and Chopra I.C (1956) Essentials of neem oil neem oil, Vol. 4(1) 1 st edition pp 3 Seminar Series, Volume 6, 2015 Page 56

5 Department of Transport, DOT (1988) Brake fluid composition for automobile, US patent Eterigho E. J. and Edoga M. U. (2002) Formulation of Hydraulic Brake Fluid Using Castor Oil as Base Stock. Physiochemical Properties of Castor Oil and The Hydraulic Brake Fluid. Journal of Science, Technology and Mathematics Education (JOSTME) Volume 5(2), September 2002, F.M.U.T. Minnapp 81. Kovo A.S., (2008). Application of full Factorial Design for the development and Characterization of Insecticidal Soap from Neem oil. Dept of chemical engineering. Federal University of Technology Minna. Retreived on dec 2015 from http//wwwledjpt.academicdirect. org/a08/29_40htm O Connor J. J, Boyd J. and Eugene A. (1968) Standard handbook of lubrication engineering, McGrawhill Book Company, 1 st edition USA. pp 22 Society for Automotive Engineers SAE (1990), Determination of some properties of engine oils SAE Journal 1703j, Michigan Society for Automotive Engineers SAE (1992), Determination of some properties of engine oils SAE Journal 1703j, Michigan Udapa N. (2014) Evaluation of Antiplaque Activity of The Neem Tree. Clinical Study, 90: Workneh, W. (2011) Extraction and Charactrization Of Essential Oil from Morgosa Seed: Addis Ababa University, School of Graduate Studies, Adis Ababa Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ethiopia. Retreived On Dec from DOT, (2013), Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids. US DOT, Standard No Apr Retrieved 22 may In: http// Wikipedia,http// automotive-brakefluid.in:http// fluid Seminar Series, Volume 6, 2015 Page 57