Effect of thermal activation on the tribological behaviours of serpentine ultrafine powders as an additive in liquid paraffin

The influence of thermal activation temperature on the tribological properties of surface-coated serpentine ultrafine powders as liquid paraffin additives was studied. It is found that the serpentine powders suspended in liquid paraffin present excellent tribological properties. Thermal activations in a temperature range from 300 to 600 °C increase the film forming ability and tribofilm completeness of the serpentine, keep the layer structure and accordingly further improve the tribological properties. However, the layer structure is destroyed and hard phases appear after thermal activated at or higher than 850 °C, as results in the aggravation of friction and wear.     

Tribological behaviors of surface-coated serpentine ultrafine powders as lubricant additive

The effect of surface-coated ultrafine powders (UFPs) of serpentine suspended in lubricants on the tribological behaviors of a mated 1045 steel contact was investigated. Through the addition of serpentine UFPs to oil, the wear resistance ability was improved and the friction coefficient was decreased. The addition of 1.5 wt% serpentine to oil is found most efficient in reducing friction and wear. The nano-hardness and the ratio of hardness to modulus of friction surface are observably increased. Such effects can be attributed to the formation of a tribofilm of multi-apertured oxide layer, on which the micrometric alumina particles embedded and serpentine nano-particles adsorbed.     

Study on the tribological properties of surfactant-modified MoS2 micrometer spheres as an additive in liquid paraffin

Tribological properties of MoS₂ micrometer spheres modified by self-prepared surfactant as an additive in liquid paraffin (LP) are studied and compared with those of the commercial colloidal MoS₂ on a four-ball tester and an Optimol SRV oscillating friction and wear tester. The worn surfaces are examined with SEM and XPS, respectively. Results show that MoS₂ micrometer sphere is a much better extreme-pressure additive and anti-wear and friction-reducing additive in LP than the commercial colloidal MoS₂. The boundary lubrication mechanism can be deduced as an effective chemical adsorption protective film formed by the long chain alkyl and active elements (S and N) in the prepared surfactant and tribochemical reaction film composed of the tribochemical reaction products of the additive. Moreover, sliding and rolling frictions exist simultaneously in the MoS₂ micrometer spheres /LP lubricating system, which also do more contributions to the good tribological properties.     

Microstructure,mechanical properties and tribological behavior of tribofilm generated from natural serpentine mineral powders as lubricant additive

Surface-modified serpentine powders with an average size of 1.0 μm were dispersed into mineral base oil to improve the lubricating properties of oil, as well as to generate a thin tribofilm on the worn surface. SEM, TEM, nano-indentation and Stribeck testing were performed to study the morphology, microstructure, micromechanical properties and tribological behavior of the tribofilm, respectively. Results show that a nanocrystalline tribofilm, with a thickness of 500–600 nm, is formed on the worn surface under the lubrication of oil with 1.5 wt% serpentine. The film is mainly composed of Fe₃O₄, FeSi, SiO₂, AlFe and Fe-C compound (Fe₃C). A phenomenological model of the tribofilm generated by serpentine was developed based on the experimental results. The excellent mechanical properties, reinforced phase of embedded particles and porous structure of the tribofilm contribute to the reduction of friction and wear, especially in the case of boundary and mixed lubrication.     

Tribological behaviours of ultrafine Sn/heat treated serpentine powder in grease

Abstract

In order to improve the tribological performance of traditionally based lithium grease, ultrafine serpentine powder of 0·33 μm and Sn powder of 120 nm were prepared by ball mill and direct current arc plasma evaporation respectively. The milled serpentine powder was heat treated at 200, 500, 600 and 800°C in a muffle furnace separately with a four-ball wear test. Then, the tribological behaviours of lithium grease modified with complex powder with different ratios of ultrafine Sn/heat treated serpentine were investigated, and the effects of total concentration and load were discussed too. The optimal performance was achieved by the compound grease with 1 wt-% complex powder and 1∶1 Sn/serpentine powder (heated at 200°C). The friction coefficient and wear scar diameter decreased 25·5 and 42·5% respectively under 392 N compared with pure grease. The compound grease is much more suitable under high load rather than low load.     

Tribological properties of the film formed by borated dioctyl dithiocarbamate as an additive in liquid paraffin

This paper discusses the preparation of borated dioctyl dithiocarbamate as an oil-soluble antiwear and extreme pressure additive for lubricants. Its tribological performance when added to liquid paraffin was evaluated on a four-ball tester and a ring-on-block machine. The relationships between its performances and the concentrations are also given, and are compared with these of zinc dialkyldithiophospate (ZDDP). The results show that the novel compound possesses an excellent load-carrying capacity and friction reduction property similar to ZDDP, and exhibits better antiwear property than ZDDP above 392 N. In addition, the novel compound has good anticorrosive property and high thermal stability. The rubbed surface was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the antiwear mechanism was discussed.     

Exploration on tribological behaviours of perrhenates as potential lubricating oil additive during a wide temperature range

The perrhenates of calcium, copper and lead used as oil additive were synthesised by using the aqueous solution method. The tribological properties of these perrhenates were examined by using a ball‐on‐disc tribotester during a wide temperature range and a four‐ball testing machine at room temperature. The four‐ball test results showed that all synthesised perrhenates presented good extreme pressure property to a certain degree and demonstrated satisfactory wear resistance at room temperature. The ball‐on‐disc experiment results showed that the base oil with perrhenate additives significantly decreased friction and wear compared with pure base oil at elevated temperatures. An antifriction and low‐shear layer was verified to form on sample surface after testing under high temperature. This layer effectively prevented the direct contact of sliding surfaces and decreased the friction coefficient. The antifriction behaviour of perrhenates implied that they could be developed as the candidate of oil additives for a hybrid lubricating mode. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tribological behaviors and wear mechanisms of ultrafine magnesium aluminum silicate powders as lubricant additive

The ultrafine attapulgite powders (UAP) were prepared using natural attapulgite powders (NAP) by the ball-milling dispersion method. The tribological behaviors of surface-modified NAP and UAP dispersed into mineral base oil were investigated. SEM, EDS, XPS and a microhardness tester were utilized to analyze the tribofilm formed on the worn surfaces. It is found that both the additives can improve the friction-reduction and anti-wear properties of the base oil. A tribofilm mainly composed of FeO, Fe₂O₃, FeOOH and SiO formed on the worn surface lubricated with oil containing NAP and UAP. And the content of iron oxides and SiO formed on the worn surface lubricated with oil containing UAP is much higher, which is responsible for the better friction-reduction and anti-wear properties of UAP.     

Tribological properties of molybdenum disulfide nanosheets by monolayer restacking process as additive in liquid paraffin

Molybdenum disulfide nanosheets were prepared by monolayer restacking process. Results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the obtained MoS₂ nanosheets had a thickness about 30-70 nm. The tribological properties of the so-prepared MoS₂ nanosheets were investigated on a MQ-800 four-ball tribometer. The results showed the base oil with MoS₂ nanosheets had better friction reduction, wear resistance and extreme pressure than those with commercial micro-MoS₂. The good tribological properties of MoS₂ nanosheets were mainly ascribed to the surface effect and the dimension effect of nanoparticles. Moreover, the formation of MoO₃ and FeSO₄ complex film on the rubbed surface also played an important role in friction reduction and wear resistance.     

Friction and wear behaviour of liquid paraffin containing an S-P type additive and amine

Sulphurised olefin (SO) and dibutyl phosphite (DBP) are two popular antiwear and extreme-pressure additives for gear oils. Investigation of the effects of the weight ratio of SO to DBP in liquid paraffin, and the effects of dodecyl amine, on the friction and antiwear properties of oil, were conducted with a four-ball wear tester. The chemical composition of the film, formed was examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and reflecting infrared spectro-scopic (IR) microscopy. The four-ball test results indicate that the weight ratio of SO to DBP affects the friction and wear behaviour of the oil and, with a weight ratio of SO to DBP of 20:1, a stable friction coefficient, and the smallest wear scar, were observed. Wear tests also showed that dodecyl amine improves or reduces the antiwear ability of the oil at certain concentrations. AES profile analyses demonstrate a thick boundary film formed on the rubbed surface with the weight ratio of SO to DBP at 20:1. Both AES and IR results indicate that the addition of dodecyl amine to an S-P type oil results in competitive adsorption, and hinders the reaction of SO and DBP with the steel surfaces.     

A tribological study of an S,P-containing benzotriazole derivative as an additive in pentaerythritol ester

The load-carrying capacity, antiwear and friction reduction properties of an S,P-containing benzotriazole derivative (BMDDP) added to a synthetic lubricant (pentaerythritol ester) were evaluated using a four-ball test machine. The results when compared with those of tricresyl phosphate (TCP) and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) show that, in pentaerythritol ester, the novel compound (BMDDP) is an excellent multifunctional additive, which possesses better load-carrying capacity, antiwear and friction reduction properties than either TCP or ZDDP. The rubbed surfaces were analysed using XPS and EPMA, and the antiwear mechanism is discussed.     

An investigation on tribological properties of graphite nanosheets as oil additive

Graphite nanosheets with average diameter of 500 nm and thickness about 15 nm were prepared by stirring ball milling. The tribological behavior of the graphite nanosheets as additive in paraffin oil were investigated with a four-ball and a pin-on-disk friction and wear tester. The wear surfaces of the steel ball lubricated with the additive-containing paraffin oil were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It has been found that the graphite nanosheets as additive in oil at proper concentration show better tribological properties than pure paraffin oil. The load-carrying capacity and antiwear ability of the lubricating oil were improved. Moreover, the friction coefficient of the lubricating oil was decreased by the addition of the graphite nanosheets. The optimal concentration of the additive in paraffin oil is about 1.0 × 10⁻² wt.%.     

Tribological properties of 4,5-di(cetyl thio)-1,3-dithiole-2-thione as additive in liquid paraffin

The synthesis of a new type of oil additive, 4,5-di(cetyl thio)-1,3-dithiole-2-thione, is described. The thermal stability of the compound was investigated by thermal gravity analysis (TGA). The tribological properties of the compound as additive in liquid paraffin were also evaluated using a four ball tester. The results show that the novel compound has good tribological properties in liquid paraffin. The lubricating mechanism was studied by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).     

Preparation of borate ester and evaluation of its tribological properties as an additive in different base oils

N‐containing borate ester (MEBE) with five‐member ring structure as a lubricant additive was synthesised. The tribological properties in liquid paraffin (LP), poly‐alpha‐olefin (PAO) and dioctyl sebacate (DOS) were evaluated, and the action mechanisms in different base oils were also explored. It was found that as‐synthesised borate ester possesses excellent antiwear performance in LP and PAO. XPS analysis suggests that the additive forms a protective film on the rubbing surfaces which is composed of BN, Fe₂O₃, polyoxyethylene ether and N‐containing organic compounds. The inorganic and organic protective films in the metal surface effectively improve the antiwear ability of the base stock. However, when the additive MEBE was introducted into DOS base oil which is prone to adsorbing to the metal surface because of the high polarity of DOS, it influences the compactness of the film formed by the DOS, resulting in weak antiwear property. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A study of S-[2-(acetamido) benzothiazol-1-yl]N,N-dibutyl dithiocarbamate as an oil additive in liquid paraffin

A heterocyclic derivative of S-[2-(acetamido) benzothiazol-1-yl]N,N-dibutyl dithiocarbamate was synthesized and its tribological behavior as an additive in liquid paraffin was evaluated using a four-ball tester. The nature of the film formed on the rubbed surface was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On the basis of the experimental results, the novel additive shows excellent antiwear property and friction reduction property similar to ZDDP, and exhibits better load-carrying capacity than ZDDP. Besides those, the novel compound has good anticorrosive property and high thermal stability. The results of XPS analyses illustrate that the prepared compound as an additive in paraffinic base oil forms a protective film containing ferric sulfide, ferric sulfate, organicsulfur compound and organicnitrogen compound on the rubbed surface.     

Effect of Ag nanoparticles additive on the tribological behavior of multialkylated cyclopentanes (MACs)

Monodisperse Ag nanoparticles with a particle size of about 6–7 nm and low volatile multialkylated cyclopentanes (MACs) lubricant were prepared. The effect of Ag nanoparticles as additive in MACs base oil on the friction and wear behavior of MACs was investigated. The friction and wear test of a steel disc sliding against the same steel counterpart ball was carried out on an Optimal SRV oscillating friction and wear tester. The morphology and elemental distribution of the worn surface of both the steel ball and steel disc and the chemical feature of typical element thereof were examined using a JEM-1200EX scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with a Kevex energy dispersive X-ray analyzer attachment (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), respectively. Friction and wear test indicates that the wear resistance and load-carrying capacity of MACs base oil were markedly raised and its friction coefficient changed little when 2% Ag nanoparticles were added in it. Results of SEM/EDS and XPS show that Ag nanoparticles were deposited on the friction pair surfaces to form low shearing stress metal Ag protective film in rubbing process.     

Study of the tribological performance of a rare earth naphthenate as a lubricant additive

The tribological behaviour of a rare earth naphthenate (REN) as a lubricant oil additive in VG26 white oil and the complexes of REN and organo‐sulphur or organo‐phosphate compounds have been evaluated with a four‐ball friction and wear tester. The chemical features and elemental composition of the boundary lubricating film were examined by means of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X‐ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS). The results show that REN exhibits good antiwear, load‐carrying, and friction‐reducing properties in the base stock. When 2.0% REN is added, the wear‐scar diameter value reduces to 54.7% of that for the base stock alone and the maximum non‐seizure load increases 2.95 times. A synergistic effect is found for the load‐carrying capability of the complex of REN and organo‐sulphur while poor compatibility is exhibited for the complex of REN and organo‐phosphate. The analytical results of AES and XPS indicate that the good performance of REN is attributable to the formation of a boundary lubricating film mainly composed of naphthenic acid, rare earth oxide, and complexes of rare earth metals, which is formed on a rubbed surface when lubricated by oil containing the REN additive.     

A study on tribological behaviours of ZDDP in polymer thickened lubricating greases

Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphate (ZDDP) is a well‐known multifunctional additive for soap based lubricating greases. Polymers are being studied for their performance as lubricating grease thickeners and rheology modifiers. In this work the tribological study of ZDDP was carried out in polypropylene (PP), maleated polypropylene (mPP) and linear low density polyethylene (PE) thickened lubricating greases. Performance of lithium grease was taken as a reference. The tribological properties were evaluated using a four ball tester for EP properties and Optimol SRV‐III machine for coefficient of friction. The mechanism of action of ZDDP in polymer greases was established through analysis of the worn surface of steel balls with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The results show that the performance of ZDDP depends on the thickener system. The antiwear and EP property exhibited by ZDDP varies from polymer to polymer. Poor performance was observed with PP type thickener whereas performance in PE and lithium grease was comparable. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A tribological study of an S–P–N containing additive in polyalphaolefin

The load‐carrying capacity, antiwear, and friction reduction properties of a novel S—P—N additive (BMDDP) added to a synthetic lubricant, polyalphaolefin (PAO), were evaluated using a four‐ball test machine. The results were compared with those of a commercial S—P—N additive (T307), and show that BMDDP is an excellent extreme pressure and antiwear additive in polyalphaolefin, similar to T307. The rubbed surfaces were investigated using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the antiwear mechanism is discussed.     

Limitations on use of ZDDP as an antiwear additive in boundary lubrication

Wear tests on rubbing elements under various contact pressures, oil temperatures and surface roughness were performed to elucidate the limitation conditions on antiwear performance of a typical zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) added to a paraffin base oil. The analysis results indicate that the antiwear performance of ZDDP depends on the rates of recovery and growth of effective surface films. If these rates exceed that of scraping the films off the rubbing surfaces, antiwear performance is evident. However, the rates of recovery and growth of surface films are influenced by some essential factors, including the oil temperature, contact pressure and the surface roughness and hardness of rubbing elements. Under some suitable conditions, ZDDPs show favorable antiwear performance, but under some severe conditions, such as high pressure (over 90 MPa), high temperature (over 200 °C) with an insufficient concentration of ZDDP and the rubbing of a rough and harder surface on a softer surface, the antiwear performance of ZDDPs is negligible.