Tribological properties of linear phosphazene oligomers as lubricants

The friction and wear behavior of a steel-on-steel contact lubricated by two novel synthetic linear phosphazene oligomers with different side branches and by perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) was comparatively investigated on an oscillating friction and wear tester. The thermal stability of the lubricants was investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis. The worn surfaces were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the two synthetic linear phosphazene oligomers were more effective than PFPE in increasing the wear-resistance of the steel-on-steel frictional pair. The phosphazene oligomer having aromatic rings had better friction-reducing ability and higher thermal stability, and that having fluoropolyether gave higher load-carrying capacity. Tribochemical reaction was involved in the sliding of steel against steel under the lubrication of the lubricants, with the generation of a protective layer composed of inorganic fluoride FeF₂ and organic compounds consisting of C, F, O, N and P. The protective layer originated from the tribochemical reaction together with the adsorbed boundary lubricating layer containing organic compounds played an important role in improving the friction and wear behavior of the steel-on-steel system.     

Relationship between tribological performance of liquid crystals and their molecular structure

The tribological behaviour of nematic and smectic liquid crystals was observed using a two-roller friction tester under the conditions of 735 N load and 220 rpm rotational speed. Each liquid crystal has two typical structures: a flexible structure (alkyl chain) and a rigid structure (cyanophenyl group). Structural features of the liquid crystals were (1) alkyl cyanobiphenyl (CB), (2) alkoxyl cyanobiphenyl (ECB) and (3) alkyl cyanophenyl cyclohexane (CPC). The frictional coefficient of the test samples was lower and the estimated film thickness was larger than those of synthetic oils. The friction coefficient was not affected by the carbon number of the alkyl chain, but was closely dependent on the molecular structure of the rigid part of the liquid crystal module. The frictional coefficient of CB which has a biphenyl group was 0.035, but CPC had a higher friction coefficient of 0.045. The molecular orientation of the rigid group was observed under shearing conditions. It is concluded that the flat structure of the biphenyl group plays an important role on the tribological behaviour.     

Relationship between the tribological properties of experimental aluminum alloys and their chemical composition

New complex alloying has been designed for aluminum antifriction alloys. Their tribological behavior has been determined, including the running-in ability, scoring resistance, and wear resistance. The interconnection of the tribological properties of experimental alloys with a doping level by different elements has been analyzed. Recommendations on the optimum content of alloying elements for the antifrictionality of the aluminum based alloys have been given.     

Rheological and tribological characterisation of six wet lubricants for space

Dry lubricants are often used in space because of their excellent behaviour in a vacuum and their thermal stability. However, mechanisms which are heavily loaded, with a high sliding rate, a long life span, or needing a stable friction coefficient cannot use this kind of product. They can be replaced by wet lubricants specially developed for vacuum applications. Such lubricants have a low vapour pressure in order to minimise outgassing losses and avoid contamination. Since European experience in the field of wet lubrication in space is rather limited, the French Space Agency CNES, with the help of the LMC (Laboratoire de Mécanique des Contacts - Contact Mechanics Laboratory), is currently characterising several wet lubricants for use in space applications. The selected lubricants were tested on a vacuum friction test bench which allows the main contact parameters to be controlled: speed, load, and kinematics. The bench is equipped with vacuum facilities and, since it runs under air, neutral gas, or vacuum, it can be used to study the effects of atmosphere. Variations of physical properties (viscosity) versus temperature (−60°C to 100°) and pressure (from atmospheric pressure to 500 MPa) were studied for all the lubricants tested, and these characteristics take into account in the analysis of the tribological test results. This paper briefly lists the characteristics of a space environment (vacuum, microgravity, etc.) and their consequences for lubrication. It describes the equipment used and the tribological and rheological test results obtained on six wet lubricants (three oils and three greases). It also contains conclusions in terms of recommendations about the use of such lubricants.     

发动机润滑油抗氧化性能与其功能元素的关系

考察了发动机润滑油功能元素与其抗氧化性能的相关性，用偏最小二乘法定量预测了发动机润滑油的抗氧化性能，研究结果表明，通过对发动机润滑油功能元素含量的分析，能够预测润滑油的抗氧化性能。     

The effect of lubricants on tribological characteristics of fibrous materials

The questions of the changing tribological characteristics of filament yarn using lubricants have been discussed. Handling polyester filament yarn with lubricants based on polyethylene glycol PEG-400 allows one to change their friction and electrophysical properties due to the formation of the molecular boundary layers. The area of desired tribological characteristics for polyester filament yarn treated with experimental lubricants has been determined.     

A study on the tribological characteristics of graphite nano lubricants

Many researchers have tried to improve the tribological characteristics of lubricants to decrease friction coefficients and wear rates. One approach is simply the use of additives in the base lubricant to change its properties. Recently, nanoparticles have emerged as a new kind of additive because of their size, shape and other properties. A nano lubricant is a new kind of engineering lubricant made of nanoparticles, dispersant, and base lubricant. In this study, graphite nanoparticles were used to fabricate nano lubricants with enhanced tribological properties and lubrication characteristics. The base lubricant used was industrial gear oil, which has a kinematic viscosity of 220 cSt at 40°C. To investigate the physical and tribological properties of nano lubricants, friction coefficients and temperatures were measured by a disk-on-disk tribotester. The surfaces of the fixed plates were observed by a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope to analyze the characteristics of the friction surfaces. The results show that when comparing fixed plates coated with raw and nano lubricants, the plate coated with a nano lubricant containing graphite nanoparticles had a lower friction coefficient and less wear. These results indicate that graphite nanoparticle additives improve the lubrication properties of regular lubricants.     

Synthetic lubricants for air cooled two cycle engine oils: Effect of esters on lubrication and tribological properties

This paper reports the development of an air-cooled two-stroke engine lubricant using esters as synthetic base stocks, and performance additives. The viscosimetric and terminological properties as well as the performance in two-cycle gasoline engines are described in comparison with standard lubricants. It is shown that the use of suitable esters can make possible the formulation of high performance lubricants for the severity of use.     

Influence of temperature on tribological behaviour of ionic liquids as lubricants and lubricant additives

Ionic liquids are low‐melting‐point salts composed entirely of ions, and many of them are liquids at room temperature. In recent years, studies have indicated that they might be good candidates for lubricants, either in neat or additive form. In this work, a sulfate‐based ionic liquid with a pyrollidinium cation was studied as neat lubricant and as additive for glycerol in lubrication of steel–steel contacts. Glycerol was chosen as the base oil because of its high polarity, which allows full miscibility with polar ionic liquids. Tests were performed on an oscillating friction and wear tribometer. The coefficients of friction and wear were measured. The tests were run at room temperature, 50 °C, 100 °C and 150 °C. By using profilometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses, it was shown that the ionic liquid plays an important role in the friction and wear reduction, as well as in the smoothening of the worn surface. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluations of tribological characteristics of PFPE lubricants on DLC surfaces of magnetic disks

This article presents measurements of adhesion and friction of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant films dip-coated on magnetic disks covered with diamond-like carbon (DLC) film. We have developed a custom-built pin-on-disk type micro-tribotester to perform the tribological measurements. The adhesion tests were performed by pulling down/up a 1.5-mm-diameter glass ball on a stationary disk surface, and the friction tests were carried out by sliding the glass ball on a rotating disk surface without changing head-disk interface conditions from the adhesion tests. Experiments were performed for the different kinds of 2- and 6-nm-thick PFPE lubricants (polar: Zdol4000 and Zdol2000; nonpolar: Z03) under lightly loaded and slow sliding conditions to minimize disturbance against the molecular layered structure. The adhesive forces were found to decrease with increasing film thickness in the order of Z03 > Zdol2000 > Zdol4000 (decreasing rate), which closely corresponds to the order of monolayer thickness, and then to saturate to almost the same calculated values. As for the friction forces of 2-nm-thick films, Zdol2000 featured extraordinarily large friction in comparison with Zdol4000 and Z03, while Zdol4000 was slightly larger than Z03. The largest friction of Zdol2000 reveals that the 2-nm-thick Zdol2000 formed a monolayer that served as an immobile layer. With the increase in film thickness, the friction force of Zdol2000 decreased, indicating that extra lubricant molecules served as a mobile layer, while that of Z03 remained unchanged as the lowest value. By extrapolating the loading force versus friction force relationship into a negative loading force region, it is found that the friction force of Z03 tended to zero at zero net load (loading force plus adhesion force), while those for Zdol2000 and Zdol4000 exhibited finite values, indicating formation of an immobile layer, which shows similar characteristics to those of adhesive rubber material. The dewetted surface is found to feature violently changing friction force only at the first stage of sliding, and it then becomes stable after several sliding passes.     

The properties and applications of Perfluoropolyether lubricants

This paper looks at the properties of perfluoroether fluids, in terms of their phyisical and chemical properties and antiwear characteristics. The molecular weight-, kinematic viscosity- and specific gravity-temperature relationships are given, and the fluids' chemical resistance and compatibilty with plastics and elastomers. Test results for for fluids on lubricity are given, as well as information on PTFE greases.     

Sxynthesis and properties of adamantane synthetic lubricants

Adamantane hydrocarbons and esters have already been described in the literature. This paper examines the properties of two types of adamantane oils, tri- and tetrabutyladamantanes, and esters prepared from adamantyl methanols and aliphatic acids, and alkyladamantane carboxylic acids and aliphatic alcohols. The preparation, properties and in particular the electrical properties are presented.     

Relationship between cavitation structures and cavitation damage

A study of visual and erosion effects of cavitation on simple single hydrofoil configurations in a cavitation tunnel was made. A two-dimensional hydrofoil with circular leading edge was used for the experiments. In addition, the hydrofoil geometry was modified to obtain some three-dimensional cavitation effects. A thin copper foil, applied to the surface of the hydrofoil, was used as an erosion sensor. Cavitation phenomenon above hydrofoils at different flow conditions (system pressure, water gas content) was observed. Images of vapour cavities from above and from side view were taken. A statistical evaluation of cavitation structures was made. Images of damaged copper coated hydrofoil surface were taken under sufficient magnification. A pit-count method, based on computer-aided image processing, was used for direct measurement of the cavitation erosion by evaluating the damage of the surface of the hydrofoil. A relation between characteristics of cavitation structures and cavitation damage was established.     

A study of the influence of lanthanum fluoride on the tribological properties of bonded solid film lubricants and its mechanism of function

The influence of lanthanum fluoride (LaF₃) on the characteristics of phenolepoxy-bonded MoS₂ dry films was investigated. The functional mechanism was specifically studied using several analytical means. The results showed that the wear life of dry films containing a certain amount of LaF₃ was considerably increased over that of the films without LaF₃. However, the effect of LaF₃ on the friction coefficient of the dry films was shown to be negligible. It was found that the addition of LaF₃ is effective in reducing the oxidation tendency of MoS₂ in the films during the friction process. The reason for this is investigated by the authors.     

Synergism of composition of nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds as a tribological active additive to lubricants

A composition containing ammonium salt of alkyldithiophosphoric acid with tetra(2-ethylhexyl)thiuramdisulfide is proposed as an effective tribological additive for lubricants. In addition, it provides a lower amount of sulfate ash, phosphorus, and sulfur in the motor oil. The composition demonstrates synergism if a fixed atomic ratio of sulfur to phosphorus is observed.     

Tribological evaluation and analysis of the head/disk interface with perfluoropolyether and X1-P phosphazene mixed lubricants

The retention characteristics of magnetic thin film media coated with perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricants and a phosphazene additive, X-1P, were investigated in this study. The retention performance was evaluated by a drag test with a waffle head sliding against the disk that was designed to mechanically wear out the lubricant layer. An IR beam was aligned on the test track to directly measure the amount of PFPE lubricants and X-1P left on the media surfaces for determining the retention characteristics of the lubricants. The drag test results show that under ambient and hot/wet conditions the media coated with AM3001 PFPE lubricant have higher retention ratio on the test track than those coated with ZDOL 2000 PFPE lubricant. The phosphazene additive X-1P was observed to strongly anchor on the surface and not easily removed as PFPE lubricants (ZDOL and AM3001). The retention characteristics of X-1P are independent of lube combination, either AM or ZDOL lubricants. It is demonstrated that X1-P exhibits a good antiwear property and excellent retention performance. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The tribological behaviour of different clearance MOM hip joints with lubricants of physiological viscosities

Clearance is one of the most influential parameters on the tribological performance of metal-on-metal (MOM) hip joints and its selection is a subject of considerable debate. The objective of this paper is to study the lubrication behaviour of different clearances for MOM hip joints within the range of human physiological and pathological fluid viscosities. The frictional torques developed by MOM hip joints with a 50 mm diameter were measured for both virgin surfaces and during a wear simulator test. Joints were manufactured with three different diametral clearances: 20, 100, and 200 microm. The fluid used for the friction measurements which contained different ratios of 25 percent newborn calf serum and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with the obtained viscosities values ranging from 0.001 to 0.71 Pa s. The obtained results indicate that the frictional torque for the 20 microm clearance joint remains high over the whole range of the viscosity values. The frictional torque of the 100 microm clearance joint was low for the very low viscosity (0.001 Pa s) lubricant, but increased with increasing viscosity value. The frictional torque of the 200 microm clearance joint was high at very low viscosity levels, however, it reduced with increasing viscosity. It is concluded that a smaller clearance level can enhance the formation of an elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) film, but this is at the cost of preventing fluid recovery between the bearing surfaces during the unloaded phase of walking. Larger clearance bearings allow a better recovery of lubricant during the unloaded phase, which is necessary for higher viscosity lubricants. The selection of the clearance value should therefore consider both the formation of the EHL film and the fluid recovery as a function of the physiological viscosity in order to get an optimal tribological performance for MOM hip joints. The application of either 25 per cent bovine serum or water in existing in vitro tribological study should also be revised to consider the relevance of clinic synovial fluid viscosities and to avoid possible misleading results.     

Mechanical and tribological properties of complex-modified material based on ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and CuO

Results of studying nanocomposite materials based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene filled with copper oxide nanopowder produced in plasma of low-pressure arc discharge are presented. The process of the vacuum-plasma synthesis of powdered composite mixtures, which involves the treatment of powders of the polymer matrix material in a device for synthesizing nanopowders at low temperatures, is described. Results of the experimental study of the specimens are presented.     

Influence of weave structures on the tribological properties of hybrid Kevlar/PTFE fabric composites

The existing research of the woven fabric self-lubricating liner mainly focus on the tribological performance improvements and the service life raised by changing different fiber type combinations, adding additive modification, and performing fiber surface modification. As fabric composites, the weave structures play an important role in the mechanical and tribological performances of the liners. However, hardly any literature is available on the friction and wear behavior of such composites with different weave structures. In this paper, three weave structures (plain, twill 1/3 and satin 8/5) of hybrid Kevlar/PTFE fabric composites are selected and pin-on-flat linear reciprocating wear studies are done on a CETR tester under different pressures and different frequencies. The relationship between the tensile strength and the wear performance are studied. The morphologies of the worn surfaces under the typical test conditions are analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis results show that at 10 MPa, satin 8/5 performs the best in friction-reduction and antiwear performance, and plain is the worst. At 30 MPa, however, the antiwear performance is reversed and satin 8/5 does not even complete the 2 h wear test at 16 Hz. There is no clear evidence proving that the tensile strength has an influence on the wear performance. So the different tribological performance of the three weave structures of fabric composites may be attributed to the different PTFE proportions in the fabric surface and the different wear mechanisms. The fabric composites are divided into three regions: the lubrication region, the reinforced region and the bonding region. The major mechanisms are fatigue wear and the shear effects of the friction force in the lubrication region. In the reinforced region fiber-matrix de-bonding and fiber breakage are involved. The proposed research proposes a regional wear model and further indicates the wear process and the wear mechanism of fabric composites.     

The interaction between friction materials and lubricants

Lubricants, beside removing the frictional heat from the contacting surfaces, also influence their friction and wear characteristics, and it is shown how the former alters with the viscosity and boundary properties of the lubricant and with the condition of the surfaces. Failure is thermal in origin, and analysis and experiment indicate that whether or not a given material will fail depends upon the rate of working for a given engagement time, or to the half power of the engagement time if the latter is varied.