Carbon microspheres as ball bearings in aqueous-based lubrication

We present an exploratory study on a suspension of uniform carbon microspheres as a new class of aqueous-based lubricants. The surfactant-functionalized carbon microspheres (～0.1 wt %) employ a rolling mechanism similar to ball bearings to provide low friction coefficients (μ ≈ 0.03) and minimize surface wear in shear experiments between various surfaces, even at high loads and high contact pressures. The size range, high monodispersity, and large yield stress of the C(μsphere), as well as the minimal environmental impact, are all desirable characteristics for the use of a C(μsphere)-SDS suspension as an alternative to oil-based lubricants in compatible devices and machinery.