Antiseizure properties of aqueous solutions of compounds forming liquid crystalline structures

Amphiphilic compounds composed of a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic alkyl chain were investigated. The compounds—sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and ethoxylated sodium lauryl sulfate (ESLS)—exhibit strong affinity for solid surfaces and form liquid crystalline structures in water. It is expected that they may become effective additives that could significantly modify antiseizure properties of water. They may extend the possibilities for applying water as an ecological base for lubricating substances. Rheological and structural X-ray studies as well as measurements of conductance and wetting angle were carried out. Their aim was to verify and validate the structures being formed in aqueous solutions of the compounds studied. Tribological studies were conducted to measure friction torque as a function of linearly increasing load by means of a four-ball apparatus. The tests were followed by measurement of the wear scar diameter on the balls. Based on the results obtained, antiwear properties were characterized by seizure and scuffing loads as well as by limiting pressure of seizure. The test results are highly surprising. The systems in which simple one-component aqueous solutions were the lubricating substance did not undergo seizure up to the maximum load of 8 kN designed for the tribological tester used. A number of typical antiwear additives in suitable oil bases do not exhibit such good characteristics. Also, the quantities characterizing seizure show relatively high values. Local maxima for the two compounds tested are formed in the area of low concentrations in the dependences of antiseizure properties as a function of concentration. It can be assumed that this is due to ordered structures being formed in the surface phase. The hexagonal phase of high viscosity of the order of several thousand Pa·s which forms in the bulk phase for ESLS and SLS solutions has no visible effect on antiseizure properties, whereas the existence of the lamellar phase for a 70% solution of ESLS affects an increase in the values being measured.