Phase Behavior and Lubricity of Aqueous PEO-PPO-PEO and PPO-PEO-PPO Triblock Copolymer Solutions

Aqueous triblock copolymer solutions are potential low-cost, eco-friendly lubricants. However, as a solution, their phase changes with copolymer concentration and solution temperature, raising the question, “Does the phase change affect the formation of adsorbed layer and the lubrication performance?” This article studies the copolymer solution phase behavior and lubricity in response to the copolymer structure, concentration, and solution temperature. Four different triblock copolymers, two normal PEO-PPO-PEO and two reverse PPO-PEO-PPO composed of PEO poly(ethylene oxide) and PPO poly(propylene oxide), have been investigated. From cloud point and surface tension measurements, phase change and micellization are shown to depend on copolymer type, number of hydrophilic PEO blocks, and temperature. Furthermore it is found that the phase and the presence of micelles lead to significant variation in adsorbed copolymer mass and lubricity. Based on the observed phase behaviors, the lubricity of copolymer solutions is discussed with regard to aggregation and adsorption on the solid–liquid interface.     

润滑油膜厚度的光学相干层析成像测量

为了对滑动轴承的润滑油膜厚度进行精确测量,搭建了光纤结构的谱域光学相干层析成像(OCT)检测系统。该检测系统通过谱域OCT对油膜进行高分辨率成像,根据一维深度图像和二维层析图像中油膜和轴承表面的相对位置得到油膜厚度。分析了SD-OCT的检测原理,并对油膜厚度进行了测量,通过干涉光谱解耦法减小噪声对测量结果的影响。实验结果表明,该系统的测量误差小于2μm,具有良好的重复性和可靠性。该测量方法能够对油膜进行快速准确测量,有望应用于机械设备轴承运行状况的在线监测。     

Lubricant film formation properties of alkyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate ionic liquids

The film thickness and friction properties of four imidazolium ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methyl tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate and 1-hexyl-3-methyl tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate) were measured for mixed rolling-sliding conditions and the results compared to an additised mineral oil. Film thickness results showed that three of the fluids demonstrated classical EHL behaviour; however, the 1-butyl-3-methyl fluids gave anomalously thick, time-dependent films at low speeds (<0.3 m/s). Post-test inspection of the specimens revealed a loosely bound brown film deposited in the track. Film formation appeared to originate in the bulk fluid where brown “fibrous” agglomerations were observed. These were flocculated by shear flow and deposited in the track after passing through the contact. Overall the RTIL friction coefficients were less than the mineral oil for all conditions investigated. In the absence of thick film formation all RTILs gave a similar friction coefficient of 0.03 in the boundary regime, which is thought to be due to electrical double layer formation. In the fluid film regime traction was determined by the nature of the anion.     

Bacterially induced degradation of aqueous solutions of poly(l-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(l-lysine)-graft-dextran: consequences for their lubrication properties

Experimental data are presented comparing the degradation in the lubrication behaviour of aqueous solutions of the brush copolymers poly(l -lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) and poly(l -lysine)-graft-dextran (PLL-g-dex) when aged after exposure to bacterial contamination. While PLL-g-PEG solutions appear to be relatively unaffected by bacteria after a storage period of as much as 8 weeks, PLL-g-dex solutions exposed to bacteria during preparation lead to as much as a twofold increase in friction coefficient, when used as a lubricant in tribological tests, over an 8 week period when compared to reference data from freshly prepared and tested samples. Solutions prepared under sterile conditions and aged for up to 8 weeks do not appear to be degraded. Further experiments implementing the anti-bacterial agent sodium azide effectively prevented bacterial colonization and degradation in lubrication behaviour. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

强迫水解化学还原法制备纳米Cu2O及其光催化性能

以Cu(CH3COO)2.2H2O为铜源,水和乙二醇的混合溶液为溶剂,在回流条件下通过强迫水解化学还原法制备了纳米Cu2O,对影响其结晶程度和晶粒大小的因素进行了分析,并测试了其光催化性能。结果表明:水和乙二醇体积比、回流反应时间和Cu(CH3COO)2初始浓度对产物Cu2O的结晶程度和晶粒大小有着重要的影响;制备的Cu2O在可见光下照射210min后甲基橙的降解率达到89%,其光催化活性优于市售P25TiO2的。     

Nanofriction Mechanisms Derived from the Dependence of Friction on Load and Sliding Velocity from Air to UHV on Hydrophilic Silicon

This paper examines friction as a function of the sliding velocity and applied normal load from air to UHV in a scanning force microscope (SFM) experiment in which a sharp silicon tip slides against a flat Si(100) sample. Under ambient conditions, both surfaces are covered by a native oxide, which is hydrophilic. During pump-down in the vacuum chamber housing the SFM, the behavior of friction as a function of the applied normal load and the sliding velocity undergoes a change. By analyzing these changes it is possible to identify three distinct friction regimes with corresponding contact properties: (a) friction dominated by the additional normal forces induced by capillarity due to the presence of thick water films, (b) higher drag force from ordering effects present in thin water layers and (c) low friction due to direct solid–solid contact for the sample with the counterbody. Depending on environmental conditions and the applied normal load, all three mechanisms may be present at one time. Their individual contributions can be identified by investigating the dependence of friction on the applied normal load as well as on the sliding velocity in different pressure regimes, thus providing information about nanoscale friction mechanisms.