Promotion of Anti-Wear Property of Sodium Stearate by Oxygen and Surface Active Agents

The anti-wear properties of a water-based lubricant were studied using a newly designed friction tester which enabled the rubbing with nascent surface under controlled atmospheres. Sodium stearate considerably reduced the wear of steel in oxygen rich atmospheres.

Supplementary adsorption tests were performed to identify the anti-wear film formed on the rubbed surface. Surface analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that metal stearate film was heavily formed on the rubbed surface in oxygen rich atmospheres. The measurement of metal elements in the protective film by atomic absorption spectroscopy clarified that the main constituent of the film was iron stearate. These results of adsorption tests could support that iron stearate might prevent the wear of steel in the wear test.

It was observed that a surface active agent prevented the formation of lubricative oxide film, but when used with sodium stearate, it synergistically promoted the anti-wear property of sodium stearate. This was attributed to the fact that the surface active agent improved the permeability of recrystallized sodium stearate to the rubbing area.