Exploratory study of alumina-on-alumina sliding contact in the presence of the chemical vapor aluminum tri-sec-butoxide

The purpose of this experiment is to explore whether the introduction of the chemical vapor aluminum tri-sec-butoxide, C₂H₅CH(CH₃)O]₃Al (ATSB), into the boundary layer of an alumina-on-alumina sliding contact can reduce wear and friction. Since the efficacy of ATSB in the boundary layer might depend on other factors, a split-plot factorial experiment was conducted. The factors tested, in addition to the presence or absence of ATSB, were normal load, sliding speed, and surface roughness. The product of normal load and sliding distance was constant in these experiments. The main conclusions of the experiment are that ATSB has no statistically significant effect on specific wear, but that the presence of ATSB reduces friction by 21% at low sliding speed (0.02 m/s) and increases friction by 26% at high sliding speed (1.2 m/s). Secondary conclusions regarding the dependence of specific wear and friction on surface roughness, sliding speed and normal load also will be discussed.