Synthesis of Diesel-Like Soots. Influence of the Operative Parameters on the Chemico-Physical and Morphological Characteristics

Synthetic Diesel-like soots were prepared according to a methodology reported in the literature, and their physico-chemical characteristics and properties determined as a function of the operating parameters. These Diesel-like soots were synthesized following a two stage process where carbon-black oil mixtures were firstly oxidized at 400 °C in a tubular furnace and the resulting solid was next oxidized between 75°C and 175 °C. The products obtained after the removal of residual oil were characterized morphologically, via elemental analysis, solid state 13C-NMR, XPS and rheologically. Results were compared with those achieved from the characterization of a “reference” soot sample extracted from an oil recovered after an XUD11 engine test. Synthetic soots have chemico-physical characteristics that are different than those of the precursor carbon black and that can be controlled changing the operative conditions of the second step of the synthesis. Soot produced at 75°C shows repeatable analytical characteristics and rheological properties, close to those of the real sample. Furthermore the results of preliminary tribological lab tests indicate that this soot is suitable for studies aimed at determining soot pro-wear properties.