Conductive and tribological properties of TiN-Ag composite coatings under grease lubrication

TiN-Ag composite coatings were prepared by pulsed bias arc ion plating.X-ray diffraction(XRD)and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS)were applied to analyze the compositions of the coatings.Tribological properties of the coatings were studied using an MFT-R4000 ball-on-disk friction tester in the presence of lubricating greases containing multilayer graphene.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM),Raman spectroscopy,and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)were used to analyze the worn surface compositions of the lubricating films.The results show that with the decrease in Ag in the film,hardness increased but electrical conductivity decreased.The coating with 10 at%Ag content shows the best friction-reducing and anti-wear properties,which can be attributed to the moderate content of Ag embedded in the TiN crystal gap that enhanced the grain bonding force to improve the anti-wear and self-lubricating ability.Graphene can be adsorbed on the coating as a solid lubricant.

Running Temperature and Mechanical Stability of Grease as Maintenance Parameters of Railway Bearings

Spherical roller bearings in railway car wheels are critical components whose failure may have catastrophic consequences. The present study aims to analyse the mechanical stability of greases and temperature of bearings as indicators for condition-based bearing maintenance. The performed case study includes nine fully-formulated commercial greases examined in the wheel bearings of five ore cars operated in northern Scandinavia. The studied ore cars travelled a distance of about 300 000 km during a period of three years. Small samples of the greases were taken on eight occasions to test their mechanical stability. In addition, the temperatures of the bearings were continuously recorded. After the test period, the wear, electrical damage, and corrosion of the bearings were examined. One of the findings is that the shear stress of the grease at a certain shear velocity （the certain yieldstress （CEY） value） is a good maintenance indicator and is highly dependent on the grease type. The bearing＇s wear, electrical damage and corrosion also depend on the grease type. However, no oxidation of the greases was identified. The paper also outlines a systematic methodology to determine an overall maintenance indicator for railway roller bearings which is based on the field measurements.

Consistency-dependent optical properties of lubricating grease studied by terahertz spectroscopy

The optical properties of four kinds of lubricating greases （urea, lithium, extreme pressure lithium, molybdenum disulfide lithium greases） with different NLGL （National Lubricant Grease Institute of America） numbers were investigated using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Greases with different NLGL grades have unique spectral features in the terahertz range. Comparison of the experimental data with predictions based on Lorentz Lorenz theory exhibited that the refractive indices of each kind of lubricating grease were dependent on the their consistency. In addition, molybdenum disullfide （MoS2） aa a libricant additive shows strong absorption from 0.2 to 1.4 THz, leading to higher absorption of MoS2-1ithium grease than that of lithium grease.

Preparation and Rheological Properties of Vacuum Lubricating Grease

A kind of vacuum lubricating grease was prepared by using perfluoropolyether as base oil,perfluorinated polymer as thickener,and self-made additives.The colloidal stability of the grease was greatly improved by introducing a colloidal structure modifier.The rheological properties of the self-made grease(SMG),such as viscosity versus time,thixotropy,etc.,were studied by a rheometer at different temperatures and were compared with those of foreign brand grease(FBG).The results show that the performance of SMG reached the level of similar FBG,and some properties such as mechanical stability,colloidal stability,extreme pressure and antiwear properties were better.It can be used for long life lubrication of moving parts in a vacuum environment.

Discussion on the Mechanism of Boric Acid and Phosphoric Acid to Improve the Hardening of Complex Calcium Lubricating Grease

In order to solve the hardening problem of complex calcium lubricating grease, the water absorption test of several calcium salts was carried out, and it was found that calcium 12-hydroxystearate did not absorb water, and calcium acetate, calcium phosphate and calcium borate had different degrees of water absorption. Calcium acetate has the highest water absorption rate, while calcium phosphate and calcium borate show comparable water absorption rates. Upon using the molecular simulation technology, it is found that in the complex calcium grease system, calcium phosphate and calcium borate tend to combine with water, which inhibits the water absorption of calcium acetate and alleviate the hardening problem.

Influence of Two Preparation Methods on Rheological Properties of Lithium Grease

The dropping point,cone penetration,corrosion,oil separation rate and oxidation stability of lithium grease prepared by two different processes at room temperature and high temperature were measured.The rheological properties of the samples were studied and analyzed with the microstructure of soap fiber.The results show that the content of thickener used in grease prepared by the room temperature method is higher in order to obtain the same consistency.The dropping point and evaporation loss of grease samples prepared by two processes are similar,and the oil separation rate of the lubricating grease prepared by the room temperature method is smaller.The preparation process has a great influence on the rheological properties of grease,and the higher content of thickener is beneficial to improving the rheological properties of grease.

Synthesis and Evaluation of 4-Hydroxy Quinolinone Derivatives as Antioxidants of Lubricating Grease

3-(5-(2.4-dichlorophyenyl)-4.5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4hydroxy-1-methylquinolin(1H)-one, 5-((4-hydroxy-8-methyl-2-oxo-1.2-dihydroquinolin-3-yl)methylene)-1-phenyl-2-hioxodihydropyrimidine-4.6(1H.5H)-dione, and 1-butyl-4-hydroxy-3-(5-styryl-4.5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3yl)quinolin-2(1H)-one were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy analysis. These compounds are designated I, II and III, respectively. The antioxidants efficiency of the synthesized compounds in lubricating greases had been investigated using ASTM d-942 and ASTM d-664. The obtained data showed that the total acid number and oxygen pressure drop of these compounds in lubricating greases decrease in the order: Comp.III. < Comp.I. < Comp.II. The antioxidant efficiency of the prepared quinolinones derivatives was discussed. Acceptable correlations were obtained between the obtained oxidation inhibition and the calculated quantum chemical parameters.

Friction and wear performance of polyether ether ketone(PEEK)polymers in three lubrication regimes

This experimental study investigates the friction and wear of three coatings commonly used in industrial applications,particularly in hydrodynamic bearings.The three materials under investigation were Babbitt,polyether ether ketone(PEEK)reinforced with 15%carbon fibers,and PEEK reinforced with 20%carbon fibers.The first polymer material was extruded,while the other was produced by fused deposition modelling(FDM).The materials were subjected to sliding tests in a pin-on-disc configuration,with a steel ball serving as the counter surface.The tests were conducted at room temperature,with a load of 10 N and under three different lubrication conditions:dry,grease,and oil.The linear speed was set at 0.3 m/s for the dry and semi-solid lubrication tests,while for the oil tests,the speed was set at 0.25 m/s.The greases used had consistency grades of NGLI 000 and NGLI 2.An ISO VG 68 circulation oil was used for the oil lubrication tests.Additionally,thermodynamic analyses were performed under the most severe conditions(i.e.,dry)to investigate the steel-Babbitt and steel-PEEK contact.

An approach of the internal friction-dependent temperature changes for conventional and pure biogenic lubricating greases

This work investigated the temperature changes inside the bulk of lubricating greases under controlled high-shear stress conditions(250-500 s-1).For this purpose,a newly developed temperature-measuring cell called Calidus was successfully tested.The temperature changes(ΔT)have been related to the greases'components(thickener,base oil-type,and composition)and the structural degradation of the lubricating greases.Furthermore,a theoretical approach was proposed for calculating the internal temperature change of lubricating greases during shear stress.All greases showed an internal temperature profile characterised by a sudden rise inΔT within the first 4 h from starting the test and subsequentΔT decay until it reaches the steady state value.Furthermore,it was found that greases C1 and C5,formulated with lithium and calcium soap,respectively,with different soap content(16.1 wt%and 9.7 wt%,respectively),but the same base castor oil,showed the highest value of the maximumΔT,c.a.3.2 K,and the most drastic drop ofΔT.These greases showed both the highest specific densities and heat capacities.In addition,they showed the lowest ratio of expended energies(Rtee),which means more structural degradation in the stressed grease.On the contrary,the grease C3,with 13 wt%of Li-soap but the lowest base oil's viscosity,showed the lowest maximumΔT and the temperature profile was characterised by a moderate variation ofΔT along the test.The biogenic grease B3 developed a low-temperature change in the group of pure bio-genic greases close to grease C3.

Grease film evolution in rolling elastohydrodynamic lubrication contacts

Although most rolling element bearings are grease lubricated,the underlying mechanisms of grease lubrication has not been fully explored.This study investigates grease film evolution with glass disc revolutions in rolling elastohydrodynamic lubrication(EHL)contacts.The evolution patterns of the grease films were highly related to the speed ranges and grease structures.The transference of thickener lumps,film thickness decay induced by starvation,and residual layer were recognized.The formation of an equilibrium film determined by the balance of lubricant loss and replenishment was analyzed.The primary mechanisms that dominate grease film formation in different lubricated contacts were clarified.

Response of grease film at low speeds under pure rolling reciprocating motion

Using an optical interferometric technique,the grease film distribution under a pure rolling reciprocating motion is observed on a ball‐disk test rig,to explore the transient response of grease,which is expected to fill the contact with thickener fiber and run for a long time under steady‐state conditions.It is found that the reciprocating motion reduces the accumulation of the thickener fiber gradually with time.The maximum film thickness forms around the stroke ends.After 1,000 working cycles,very severe starvation occurs so that either the central or minimum film thickness becomes nearly constant over one working period.Thus,the life of grease lubrication under a transient condition is far below that under steady‐state conditions.However,it is also found that by selecting a smaller stroke length,the thickener fiber spreads out in the contact instead of being removed from the contact at the 1,000th working period.When increasing the maximum entraining speed of the reciprocating motion to a certain value,during which the thickener fiber is not expected to accumulate under a steady‐state condition,severe starvation occurs very quickly,causing surface damage.

A synergetic strategy based on laser surface texturing and lubricating grease for improving the tribological and electrical properties of Ag coating under current-carrying friction

Herein,a series of Ag coatings with different micro‐dimples were fabricated on copper surfaces by laser surface texturing(LST)and magnetron sputtering.Multilayer graphene lubricating grease(MGLG)was prepared using multilayer graphene as an additive.The textured Ag coatings and MGLG were characterized.Moreover,the tribological and electrical performances of the textured Ag coatings under MGLG lubrication were investigated in detail.Results demonstrated that the textured Ag coating with an appropriate dimple diameter could exhibit improved tribological and electrical properties when compared to the non‐textured Ag coating under MGLG lubrication.The characterization and analysis of the worn surfaces suggest that the synergetic effect of LST and MGLG contributes to these excellent tribological and electrical properties.

Rheological and tribological approaches as a tool for the development of sustainable lubricating greases based on nano-montmorillonite and castor oil

This study investigates the development of novel montmorillonite/castor oil blends to formulate sustainable lubricating greases to promote the replacement of petrochemicals industry-derived materials by substances obtained from renewable sources.Specifically,the effect of the thickener concentration on the rheological,chemical,thermal,tribological properties,and atomic force microscopy(AFM)microstructure of these systems were studied.The results showed that the C20A nanoclay content could be used to modulate the viscosity values,the linear viscoelastic functions,and tribological properties of these montmorillonite dispersions.In general,these gel-like dispersions exhibited remarkable lubricant properties;the samples showed values of the friction coefficient and wear scars similar or lower than those obtained with model bentonite grease.

Microstructures, mechanical properties, and grease-lubricated sliding wear behavior of Cu–15Ni–8Sn–0.8Nb alloy with high strength and toughness

Alloys used as bearings in aircraft landing gear are required to reduce friction and wear as well as improve the load‐carrying capability due to the increased aircraft weights.Cu–15Ni–8Sn–0.8Nb alloy is well known for possessing good mechanical and wear properties that satisfy such requirements.In this study,the microstructure,mechanical properties,and grease‐lubricated sliding wear behavior of Cu–15Ni–8Sn–0.8Nb alloy with 0.8 wt%Nb are investigated.The nanoscale NbNi3 and NbNi2Sn compounds can strengthen the alloy through the Orowan strengthening mechanism.A Stribeck‐like curve is plotted to illustrate the relationship among friction coefficient,normal load,and sliding velocity and to analyze the grease‐lubricated mechanism.The wear rate increases with normal load and decreases with sliding velocity,except at 2.58 m/s.A wear mechanism map has been developed to exhibit the dominant wear mechanisms under various friction conditions.When the normal load is 700 N and the sliding velocity is 2.58 m/s,a chemical reaction between the lubricating grease and friction pairs occurs,resulting in the failure of lubricating grease and an increase in wear.

An exploration of frictional and vibrational behaviors of textured deep groove ball bearing in the vicinity of requisite minimum load

In case of lightly loaded radial ball bearings,failure mechanisms other than fatigue such as smearing of raceways due to increased frictional torque and vibrations often prevail.Hence,attempts have been made herein for reducing the frictional torque and minimizing the vibrations of a radial deep groove ball bearing employing surface textures at the inner race.Nanosecond pulsed laser was used to create texture(involving micro-dimples having different dimple area density)on the inner race of test bearings.Using an in-house developed test rig,frictional torque and vibrational parameters were measured at different speeds and light loads(i.e.in vicinity of 0.01C,where C is dynamic load capacity of radial ball bearing).Significant reduction in frictional torque and overall vibrations were found in the presence of micro-dimples on inner race at light loads irrespective of operating speeds.Even without satisfying the minimum load needed criteria for the satisfactory operation,substantial reduction in smearing marks was found on the races of textured ball bearings in comparison to conventional cases.