Synthesis, characterization and performance of nanostructured 2D turbostratic graphite particles derived from the solid-state reaction between carbides

•This work presents a novel high carbon yield process to synthesize 2D turbostratic graphite particles based on the solid-state reaction between carbide particles.•The carbon yield with the system B4CCr3C2 was ∼30 mol%.•The CDC particles obtained presented a porous nanostructured 2D turbostratic structure.•These particles have an excellent dispersibility in POE oil, opening a wide range of applications as a lubricant additive.•They are able to reduce friction and wear of metal-metal pairs under dry and oil-lubricated sliding conditions. In this work, a novel synthesis method of nanostructured carbon derived from carbides was developed. From phase diagram calculations, the boron and chromium carbides system was defined. The process developed consisted of the solid-state reaction between the carbides followed by a stage of chemical dissolution using hydrochloric acid. From this process, it was possible to recover practically all the carbon present in the system (∼15 wt.%) and a mechanism for the formation of nanostructure carbon during the reaction was proposed. The carbon produced by this method presented a 2D nanostructured turbostratic structure. As a result, they were able to reduce friction and wear of metal-metal pairs under dry and oil-lubricated sliding conditions. These particles also showed excellent dispersibility in the lubricant oil, opening a wide range of applications for this material as a lubricant additive. [Display omitted]