Friction reduction by metal sulfides in boundary lubrication studied by XPS and XANES analyses

In this work, the antiwear action of zinc dithiophosphate (ZnDTP) in combination with friction modifier agent molybdenum dithiocarbamate (MoDTC) has been investigated. A Cameron-Plint friction machine was used to generate large tribofilm areas in mild tribological conditions. Two analytical techniques, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, have been employed to characterize the chemical species in tribofilms. XANES spectroscopy at the P K and L-edge, Mo L and M-edge and S K-edge was carried out in order to investigate phosphates and sulfides species in the tribofilms This was followed by XPS analysis in the same location in the tribofilms. Special attention has been paid to the peak fitting of Fe 2p, Zn 2p, S 2p, Mo 3d and O 1s photopeaks and Auger ZnLMM lines. The combined analyses have shown that the MoDTC+ZnDTP containing oil produces mainly shorter chain metal polyphosphate material in addition to ZnS and MoS₂. No zinc sulfate has been detected. XPS confirms that the formation of MoS₂ is enhanced by the presence of ZnDTP. For all additives combinations; no iron has been detected in the tribofilms. Analytical results are discussed and compared with theoretical predictions from the Chemical Hardness model for ZnDTP, MoDTC and ZnDTP+MoDTC tribofilms formation.