MECHANISM OF BOUNDARY LUBRICATION UNDER POINT CONTACT

The acid number of the mixed solution of 150SN oil and oleic acid characterizes the volume content of oleic acid in the solution, based on which the adsorptive capability of oleic acid is studied on the 45 steel balls and disks. Boundary lubrication tests are carried out on a self designed ball-on-disk machine, The base oil is pure 150SN oil, and oleic acid as additive are added into the lubricant. Disks have surface roughness values （Ra） of 0.8 μn and 0.4 μn. The electrical contact resistance method is used to determine the lubrication status. Hypothesize that the molecular film is monomolecular layer in condensed state and the opposing surfaces are completely separated by molecular film. A boundary lubrication model is established according to experimental results and hypothesizes. The experimental and calculatienal results show that the adsorption of polar molecules on steel surface is the main factor to form the boundary lubrication film. Load and sliding speed contribute little to the friction coefficient of boundary lubrication. The properties of steel surface and additive for the lubricant significantly influence on the characters of boundary lubrication. The smaller the surface roughness value is, the smaller the friction coefficient of the boundary lubrication is.

Effects of surface nanostructure on boundary lubrication using molecular dynamics

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the boundary lubrication behaviors of squalane lubricant between two iron wall structures during shearing at different pressures and temperatures.Boundary lubrication models with a smooth iron wall and a nanostructured iron wall,respectively,are constructed,and the density distribution of the lubricating film and the velocity distribution in the shearing process are analyzed.The mechanical response of the solid wall is output,and the friction coefficient is calculated.A tribological test is performed with a UMT-2 tribometer under sliding conditions to evaluate the reliability of the simulation method.The results show that the surface nanostructure has a significant effect on the film thickness and delamination of the lubricating film but little effect on the velocity distribution of the lubricating film.The nano strip groove helps to reduce the friction coefficient of the boundary lubrication system.

MoS_(2) reinforced PEEK composite for improved aqueous boundary lubrication

Polyether-etherketone(PEEK)is a corrosion-resistant material that has been widely used in aqueous lubrication.However,its anti-wear performance must be improved for its application in the industry.In this study,to improve the anti-wear performance of PEEK for aqueous boundary lubrication,PEEK/MoS_(2)composites were prepared by ball-milling and spark plasma sintering processes.A competitive MoS_(2)mechanism between the low shear strength property and the role of promoting wear debris generation influences the anti-wear performance of PEEK/MoS_(2)composites.Experiments demonstrated that the coefficients of friction(COF)and wear rate of PEEK composite with 0.25 wt%MoS_(2)were significantly reduced 68%and 94%,respectively.Furthermore,this was the first time that a PEEK composite could achieve a COF of less than 0.05 in aqueous boundary lubrication.Its anti-wear performance was verified to be better than that of PEEK/carbon fiber(CF)and Thordon composites.The PEEK/MoS_(2)composite may be a potential material for underwater equipment because of its outstanding anti-wear performance in aqueous boundary lubrication.

Molecular dynamics simulation of the Stribeck curve: Boundary lubrication, mixed lubrication, and hydrodynamic lubrication on the atomistic level

Lubricated contact processes are studied using classical molecular dynamics simulations for determining the entire range of the Stribeck curve.Therefore,the lateral movement of two solid bodies at different gap height are studied.In each simulation,a rigid asperity is moved at constant height above a flat iron surface in a lubricating fluid.Both methane and decane are considered as lubricants.The three main lubrication regimes of the Stribeck curve and their transition regions are covered by the study:Boundary lubrication(significant elastic and plastic deformation of the substrate),mixed lubrication(adsorbed fluid layer dominates the process),and hydrodynamic lubrication(shear flow is set up between the surface and the asperity).We find the formation of a tribofilm in which lubricant molecules are immersed into the metal surface—not only in the case of scratching,but also for boundary lubrication and mixed lubrication.The formation of a tribofilm is found to have important consequences for the contact process.Moreover,the two fluids are found to show distinctly different behavior in the three lubrication regimes:For hydrodynamic lubrication(large gap height),decane yields a better tribological performance;for boundary lubrication(small gap height),decane shows a larger friction coefficient than methane,which is due to the different mechanisms observed for the formation of the tribofilm;the mixed lubrication regime can be considered as a transition regime between the two other regimes.Moreover,it is found that the nature of the tribofilm depends on the lubricant:While methane particles substitute substrate atoms sustaining mostly the crystalline structure,the decane molecules distort the substrate surface and an amorphous tribofilm is formed.

Comparative study on boundary lubrication of Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) MXene and graphene oxide in water

The emerging use of two-dimensional(2D)nanomaterials as boundary lubricants in water offers numerous benefits over oil-based lubricants;whereas the friction reduction varies significantly with nanomaterial type,size,loading,morphology,etc.Graphene oxide(GO)and Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene,a relatively new 2D material,are investigated as boundary lubricants in water in this study.The contact pair mainly includes Si3N4 balls and Si wafer.The results found(1)monodispersed GO offers better lubricity than monodispersed MXene under identical concentration and testing conditions;and(2)the mixed dispersion of GO and MXene(0.1 mg/ml:0.1 mg/ml)produced the lowest friction coefficient of~0.021,a value 4×and 10×lower than that produced by comparable mono-dispersions of GO or MXene,respectively.Wear track analysis,focused ion beam microscopy,in-situ contact observation,and atomic force microscopy(AFM)characterization suggest(1)GO nanoflakes have higher adhesion than MXene and are more easily adsorbed on the tribopairs’surfaces,and(2)GO/MXene tribofilm has a layered nanostructure constituting GO,MXene,amorphous carbon,and TiO_(2).We further hypothesized that the high lubricity of GO/MXene results from the synergy of GO’s high adhesiveness,MXene’s load support ability,and the low shear strength of both constituents.The present study highlights the key role of tribofilm stability in water-based boundary lubrication using state-of-the-art 2D nanomaterials.

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.

Boundary lubrication by adsorption film

A complete understanding of the mechanism of boundary lubrication is a goal that scientists have been striving to achieve over the past century.Although this complicated process has been far from fully revealed,a general picture and its influencing factors have been elucidated,not only at the macroscopic scale but also at the nanoscale,which is sufficiently clear to provide effective instructions for a lubrication design in engineering and even to efficiently control the boundary lubrication properties.Herein,we provide a review on the main advances,especially the breakthroughs in uncovering the mysterious but useful process of boundary lubrication by adsorption film.Despite the existence of an enormous amount of knowledge,albeit unsystematic,acquired in this area,in the present review,an effort was made to clarify the mainline of leading perspectives and methodologies in revealing the fundamental problems inherent to boundary lubrication.The main content of this review includes the formation of boundary film,the effects of boundary film on the adhesion and friction of rough surfaces,the behavior of adsorption film in boundary lubrication,boundary lubrication at the nanoscale,and the active control of boundary lubrication,generally sequenced based on the real history of our understanding of this process over the past century,incorporated by related modern concepts and prospects.

Boundary slip and lubrication mechanisms of organic friction modifiers with effect of surface moisture

Surface moisture or humidity impacting the lubrication property is a ubiquitous phenomenon in tribological systems,which is demonstrated by a combination of molecular dynamics(MD)simulation and experiment for the organic friction modifier(OFM)-containing lubricant.The stearic acid and poly-α-olefin 4cSt(PAO4)were chosen as the OFM and base oil molecules,respectively.The physical adsorption indicates that on the moist surface water molecules are preferentially adsorbed on friction surface,and even make OFM adsorption film thoroughly leave surface and mix with base oil.In shear process,the adsorption of water film and desorption OFM film are further enhanced,particularly under higher shear rate.The simulated friction coefficient(that is proportional to shear rate)increases firstly and then decreases with thickening water film,in good agreement with experiments,while the slip length shows a contrary change.The wear increases with humidity due to tribochemistry revealing the continuous formation and removal of Si–O–Si network.The tribological discrepancy of OFM-containing lubricant in dry and humid conditions is attributed to the slip plane’s transformation from the interface between OFM adsorption film and lubricant bulk to the interface between adsorbed water films.This work provides a new thought to understand the boundary lubrication and failure of lubricant in humid environments,likely water is not always harmful in oil lubrication systems.

Tribological behaviors of spot-textured TiN coatings on M2 high-speed steel under boundary lubricated conditions

The effect of sliding duration on the tribological behaviors of spot patterned coatings was investigated. Two patterns based on physical vapor deposition （PVD） TiN coatings were used, such as, in-lined （IN） and staggered （ST） spots. The tribological behaviors were evaluated by using a Cameron-Plint wear test rig. The M2 steel discs deposited TiN coatings with IN and ST patterns slid against the ASSAB 17 tool steel pins at a speed of 0.23 m/s, in Shell Tellus T32 lubricant and were loaded with 900 N. The testing results on disc specimens with two types of PVD TiN spot patterns, all coated with a bias voltage of-180 V and slid for 4, 8 and 11 h respectively, were presented. The results revealed that the in-lined coatings possessed relatively better wear behaviors than the staggered pattern coatings. Mechanisms for such superiority and for the cause of peeling were discussed. A relevant design approach was suggested for the application of such patterned coatings.

FRICTION IN GEAR TEETH UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE LUBRICATION

The data measured by using the two-disc tester show that the concentration of EP addi- tives and the viscosity temperature characteristic of lubricant have a cooperation effect on the fric- tion coefficient in boundary lubrication.

SCUFFING MODEL CONSIDERING INFLUEN OF HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION

This paper attempted to solve the problem of scuffing mechanism on the basis of the-ories in three fields: Boundary lubrication , Hydrodynamic lubrication and Surface contact. forlineasr contacting, a simple solution has been obtained.

Experimental study on boundary lubricity of superficial area of articular cartilage and synovial fluid

The boundary lubrication mechanism at the articulating surface of natural synovial joints has been the subject of much discussion in tribology.In this study,to elucidate the lubricating function of the superficial area of articular cartilage and synovial fluid(SF),cartilage specimens were processed with four different treatments:gentle and severe washing with detergent,incubation in NaCl solution,and trypsin digestion to selectively remove certain constituents from the cartilage surface.Subsequently,the frictional characteristics were examined in phosphate-buffered saline(PBS)and SF against glass.Angularly reciprocating sliding tests with a spherical glass probe and square articular cartilage specimens were performed at low contact loads in the mN range to extract the frictional behavior in the superficial area of the cartilage specimens.Meanwhile,the cartilage surface was observed to confirm the effects of treatments on the morphology of the cartilage surface using a fluorescence microscope and water-immersion methods.The coefficient of friction(COF)of the prepared cartilage specimens was varied from 0.05 to over 0.3 in PBS.However,a certain group of cartilage specimens exhibited a low COF of less than 0.1 with limited variation.For the low COF group of specimens,all four treatments increased the COF in PBS to different extents,and fluorescence microscopy revealed that the integrity of the cartilage surface was deteriorated by treatments.This means that the intact cartilage surface had lubricating constituents to maintain low friction,and the removal of such constituents resulted in the loss of the intrinsic boundary lubricity of the cartilage surface.The variation in the COF of the cartilage specimens was suppressed in SF because it had a clear boundary lubrication effect on the cartilage surface.The lubricating effect of SF could be confirmed even after degenerative treatment.

Mechanic model of water-based boundary lubricated contact based on surface force effects

In water-based boundary lubrication regime,the contact gaps(or boundary lubricated film thickness)and surface pressure distribution must be determined to really understand the boundary lubricated contact mechanism.However,the accurate determination of these parameters is limited.In this study,a mechanical model based on boundary lubricated contact involving surface force effects is developed.The surface force distribution characteristics,normal force vs.central film thickness curve,and macroscale water-based boundary lubricated contact are investigated numerically.The results show that hydration directly affects surface force interaction.The accurate boundary lubricated film thickness and surface pressure distribution can be obtained using this model in point contact.Furthermore,the mechanism of macroscale water-based liquid boundary lubricated contact is investigated,in which a water-based boundary lubricated film is formed under appropriate operating conditions based on surface force effects during running-in.This study can reveal the water-base boundary lubricated contact behavior and the carrying capacity of the surface force effect,and provides important design guidance for the surface force effect to achieve liquid superlubricity in water-based boundary lubricated contacts.

Scuffing failure analysis based on a multiphysics coupling model and experimental verification

General reductions in lubricant viscosities and increasing loads in machine components highlight the role of tribofilms in providing surface protection against scuffing.However,the relationship between the scuffing process and the growth and removal of tribofilm is not well understood.In this study,a multiphysics coupling model,which includes hydrodynamic lubrication,asperity contact,thermal effect,tribochemistry reaction,friction,and surface wear,was developed to capture the initiation of surface scuffing.Simulations and experiments for a piston ring and cylinder liner contact were conducted following a step-load sequence under different temperature conditions.The results show that high temperature and extreme load could induce the lubricant film collapse,which in turn triggers the breakdown of the tribofilm due to the significantly increased removal process.The failures of both lubricant film and tribofilm progress instantaneously in a coupling way,which finally leads to severe scuffing.

Hydration lubrication

The hydration lubrication paradigm,whereby hydration layers are both strongly held by the charges they surround,and so can support large pressures without being squeezed out,and at the same time remain very rapidly relaxing and so have a fluid response to shear,provides a framework for understanding,controlling,and designing very efficient boundary lubrication systems in aqueous and biological media.This review discusses the properties of confined water,which-unlike organic solvents-retains its fluidity down to molecularly thin films.It then describes lubrication by hydrated ions trapped between charged surfaces,and by other hydrated boundary species including charged and zwitterionic polymer brushes,surfactant monolayers,liposomes,and biological macromolecules implicated in synovial joint lubrication.Finally,challenges and prospects for future development of this new boundary lubrication approach are considered.

Shear-responsive boundary-lubricated hydrogels attenuate osteoarthritis

Lipid-based boundary layers formed on liposome-containing hydrogels can facilitate lubrication.However,these boundary layers can be damaged by shear,resulting in decreased lubrication.Here,a shear-responsive boundary-lubricated drug-loaded hydrogel is created by incorporating celecoxib(CLX)-loaded liposomes within dynamic covalent bond-based hyaluronic acid(HA)hydrogels(CLX@Lipo@HA-gel).The dynamic cross-linked network enables the hydrogel to get restructured in response to shear,and the HA matrix allows the accumulation of internal liposome microreservoirs on the sliding surfaces,which results in the formation of boundary layers to provide stable lubrication.Moreover,hydration shells formed surrounding the hydrogel can retard the degradation process,thus helping in sustaining lubrication.Furthermore,in vitro and in vivo experiments found that CLX@Lipo@HA-gels can maintain anabolic-catabolic balance,alleviate cartilage wear,and attenuate osteoarthritis progression by delivering CLX and shear-responsive boundary lubrication.Overall,CLX@Lipo@HA-gels can serve as shear-responsive boundary lubricants and drug-delivery vehicles to alleviate friction-related diseases like osteoarthritis.

Molecules with a TEMPO-based head group as high-performance organic friction modifiers

High-performance organic friction modifiers(OFMs)added to lubricating oils are crucial for reducing energy loss and carbon footprint.To establish a new class of OFMs,we measured the friction and wear properties of N-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxyl-4-piperidinyl)dodecaneamide referred to as C12Amide-TEMPO.The effect of its head group chemistry,which is characterized by a rigid six-membered ring sandwiched by an amide group and a terminal free oxygen radical,was also investigated with both experiments and quantum mechanical(QM)calculations.The measurement results show that C12Amide-TEMPO outperforms the conventional OFMs of glyceryl monooleate(GMO)and stearic acid,particularly for load-carrying capacity,wear reduction,and stability of friction over time.The friction and wear reduction effect of C12Amide-TEMPO is also greatly superior to those of C12Ester-TEMPO and C12Amino-TEMPO,in which ester and amino groups replace the amide group,highlighting the critical role of the amide group.The QM calculation results suggest that,in contrast to C12Ester-TEMPO,C12Amino-TEMPO,and the conventional OFMs of GMO and stearic acid,C12Amide-TEMPO can form effective boundary films on iron oxide surfaces with a unique double-layer structure:a strong surface adsorption layer owing to the chemical interactions of the amide oxygen and free radical with iron oxide surfaces,and an upper layer owing to the interlayer hydrogen-bonding between the amide hydrogen and free radical or between the amide hydrogen and oxygen.Moreover,the intralayer hydrogen-bonding in each of the two layers is also possible.We suggest that in addition to strong surface adsorption,the interlayer and intralayer hydrogen-bonding also increases the strength of the boundary films by enhancing the cohesion strength,thereby resulting in the high tribological performance of C12Amide-TEMPO.The findings in this study are expected to provide new hints for the optimal molecular design of OFMs.

Tribology of enzymatically degraded cartilage mimicking early osteoarthritis

Healthy cartilage is a water-filled super lubricious tissue.Collagen type II provides it structural stability,and proteoglycans absorb water to keep the cartilage in a swollen condition,providing it the ability to creep and provide weeping lubrication.Osteoarthritis(OA)is a degenerative and debilitating disorder of diarthrodial joints,where articular cartilage damage originates from enzymatic degradation and mechanical damage(wear).The objective of this research is to observe the level of cartilage damage present in knee arthroplasty patients and to understand the friction and creep behavior of enzymatically degraded bovine cartilage in vitro.Lateral(Lat)and medial(Med)condylar cartilages from OA patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty showed signs of enzymatic degradation and mechanical damage.Bovine cartilages were exposed to collagenase III and chondroitinase ABC to degrade collagen and proteoglycans,respectively.The loss of proteoglycans or collagen network and morphological changes were observed through histology and the atomic force microscope(AFM),respectively.A significant effect on creep due to enzymatic treatment was not observed.But the enzymatic treatment was found to significantly decrease the coefficient of friction(COF)at 4 N,while higher COF was shown from chondroitinase ABC degraded cartilage at 40 N.Collagenase III treatment leads to the release of intact proteoglycans at the sliding interface,while chondroitinase ABC treatment leads to the loss of chondroitin sulfate(CS)from the proteoglycans.Chondroitinase ABC-digested bovine cartilage mimicked patient samples the best because of the similar distributions of proteoglycans,collagen network,and friction behavior.

Carbon-based solid-liquid lubricating coatings for space applications-A review

Despite continuous improvements in machine elements over the past few decades,lubrication issues have impeded human exploration of the universe because single solid or liquid lubrication systems have been unable to satisfy the ever-increasing performance requirements of space tribology.In this study,we present an overview of the development of carbon-based films as protective coatings,with reference to their high hardness,low friction,and chemical inertness,and with a particular focus on diamond-like carbon(DLC)films.We also discuss the design of carbon-based solid-liquid synergy lubricating coatings with regards to their physicochemical properties and tribological performance.Solid-liquid composite coatings are fabricated via spinning liquid lubricants on solid lubricating films.Such duplex lubricating coatings are considered the most ideal lubrication choice for moving mechanical systems in space as they can overcome the drawback of adhesion and cold-welding associated with solid films under harsh space conditions and can minimize the crosslinking or chain scission of liquid lubricants under space irradiation.State of the art carbon-based solid-liquid synergy lubricating systems therefore holds great promise for space applications due to solid/liquid synergies resulting in superior qualities including excellent friction reduction and anti-wear properties as well as strong anti-irradiation capacities,thereby meeting the requirements of high reliability,high precision,high efficiency,and long lifetime for space drive mechanisms.

Ultralow friction polymer composites incorporated with mono-dispersed oil microcapsules

Ultralow friction polymer composites were prepared by adding oil-loaded microcapsules into epoxy(EP)resin.Mono-dispersed polystyrene(PS)/poly alpha olefin(PAO)microcapsules with a diameter of~2μm and a shell thickness of~30 nm were prepared by solvent evaporation method in an oil-in-water emulsion.The lubrication behaviors of the EP resin composites with oil-loaded microcapsules have been investigated under different loads and sliding speeds.As compared with the pure EP resin,the friction coefficient of the composite could be reduced to 4%(from 0.71 to 0.028)and the wear rate could be decreased up to two orders of magnitude.It was demonstrated that the released PAO oil from the microcapsules during the friction process produced a boundary lubricating film,which could prevent the direct contact of two rubbing surfaces,and thus leading to an extremely low friction coefficient and wear rate.Moreover,the composites with microcapsules could achieve comparable lubrication properties to the case under the external lubrication condition,while the former case could effectively minimize the lubricant leakage and improve the lubrication efficiency.