Tribological Performance and Mechanism of Phosphate Ionic Liquids as Additives in Three Base Oils for Steel-on-aluminum Contact

Butylammonium dibutylphosphate and tetrabutylammonium dibutylphosphate ionic liquids (ILs) were evaluated as antiwear additives for steel-on-aluminum contact in three different base oils, a polyalphaolefin, an ester oil and an IL 1-methy-3-hexylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, respectively, with similar viscosity and different polarities. The friction experiments were carried out on an Optimal SRV-IV oscillating reciprocating friction and wear tester at room temperature. Results indicate phosphate ILs can effectively improve the tribological properties of the base oil, especially the antiwear property, as additives for steel/aluminum contacts. For the base oils PAO10 and PAO40 with different viscosities, the higher viscosity of PAO40 can be beneficial to reducing the friction coefficient. The worn surface morphologies and chemical compositions of wear scars were analyzed by a JSM-5600LV scanning electron microscope and PHI-5702 multifunctional X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The XPS analysis results illustrate that the phosphate IL additives in the base oils with different polarities exhibit the same tribological mechanism. A synergy exists between the adsorbed layers and boundary-lubricating films generated from the tribochemical reaction of IL and the substrate surface, which may reduce the friction coefficient and wear volume of the friction pairs.