By: Azman Zakaria
Photo by: Mozaid Idris
SERDANG: Researchers from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) have successfully developed a lubricant additive using graphene capable of enhancing engine efficiency and power, reducing carbon emissions, and saving fuel.
Graphene, the key element in the development of the innovation, provides comprehensive protection to car pistons by reducing frictions on the pistons due to its strong capability in protecting metal surfaces and reducing frictions.
Thus, the innovation, dubbed as GrafinTok™, benefits consumers as it helps reduce cost and saves fuel, and acts as a lubricant additive that prolongs the lifespan of engine oil and cools the vehicle engines.
Head of the research team, Prof. Dr. Janet Lim Hong Ngee, said GrafinTok™ is suitable for all types of cars and is easy to use as drivers only need to add GrafinTok™ into the engine oil.
She said it improves engine efficiency by reducing hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen monoxide (NO) emissions by 50 per cent, reviving damp engines, and reducing noise and vibrations by 10 per cent for smoother and quieter driving.
According to her, cars with an engine oil capacity of 5 L and below need only one bottle of 120 ml GrafinTok™ to be mixed into the engine oil while cars with an engine oil capacity of 5 L and above need two bottles of GrafinTok™.
She said the innovation was specifically designed to address issues of high friction on metal surfaces (pistons) and to eliminate logistic and cost problems, thus making it a worthwhile and user-friendly additive engine oil as it works on a 'Do-It-Yourself' basis.
She said GrafinTok™ protects the surface between the irons to reduce frictions, thereby increasing engine power.
"Lesser frictions make the car engine quieter and reduce vibrations, so driving is smoother," she said.
Prof. Dr. Janet Lim, from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, UPM, said GrafinTok™ focuses on being a ‘green invention’ that saves consumers’ money by reducing the need to change the engine oil regularly as it reduces dirty waste oil.
According to her, GrafinTok™ is an engine additive aimed at overcoming a common issue of an expensive price of engine oil among consumers and the automotive industry and at the same time, it can be used by various types of cars.
GrafinTok™ was inspired by her father’s experience as a taxi driver who always complained about the noise, strong vibrations, and dampness of his car.
The innovation won a gold medal at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) Malaysia 2021. It has been patented and is now commercialised through a start-up company, GO Advanced Solutions Sdn. Bhd. of the Putra Science Park (PSP), UPM.
It is also the grand winner of ‘Versatile Graphene’ at the Researcher Entrepreneur Award held in conjunction with the Malaysian Year of Commercialisation 2018 organised by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change. - UPM
