Synergistic tribological effect between polyisobutylene succinimide-modified molybdenum oxide nanoparticle and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate for reducing friction and wear of diamond-like carbon coating under boundary lubrication

Organic molybdenum lubricant additive like molybdenum dialkyl dithiocarbamate(MoDTC)can cause wear acceleration of diamond-like carbon(DLC)coating coupled with steel under boundary lubrication,which hinders its industrial application.Therefore,polyisobutylene succinimide(PIBS),an organo molybdenum amide,was adopted to modify molybdenum oxide affording molybdenum polyisobutylene succinimidemolybdenum oxide nanoparticles(MPIBS-MONPs)with potential to prevent the wear acceleration of DLC coating.The thermal stability of MPIBS-MONPs was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis.Their tribological properties as the additives in di-isooctyl sebacate(DIOS)were evaluated with MoDTC as a control;and their tribomechanism was investigated in relation to their tribochemical reactions and synergistic tribological effect with zinc dialkyldithiophosphate(ZDDP)as well as worn surface characterizations.Findings indicate that MPIBS-MONPs/ZDDP added in DIOS can significantly reduce the friction and wear of DLC coating,being much superior to MoDTC.This is because MPIBS-MONPs and ZDDP jointly take part in tribochemical reactions to form a composite tribofilm that can increase the wear resistance of DLC coating.Namely,the molybdenum amide on MPIBS-MONPs surface can react with ZDDP to form MoS2 film with excellent friction-reducing ability;and MPIBS-MONPs can release molybdenum oxide nanoparticle to form deposited lubrication layer on worn surfaces.The as-formed composite tribofilm consisting of molybdenum oxide nanocrystal,amorphous polyphosphate,and molybdenum disulfide as well as a small amount of Mo2C accounts for the increase in the wear resistance of DLC coating under boundary lubrication.