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Boundary lubrication characteristics of polyol ester-class synthetic lubricants applied to silicon nitride at high temperature up to 280{degrees}C

Journal Article · · Lubrication Engineering
OSTI ID:494181

Wear of silicon nitride (Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}) lubricated with polyol esters was investigated. The polyol esters are expected to have good thermal and oxidative stabilities at high temperature. A high-temperature four-ball tribometer was newly designed for the study. The experiments were carried out over a temperature range of 80{degrees} to 280{degrees}C. Commercially available Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} balls for rolling bearings were used for the test specimens and steel balls were also used as references. Four kinds of hindered polyol esters were used: trimethylopropane esters (TMP-m and TMP-C9), a pentaerythritol ester (PETN) and a dipentaerythritol ester (DPHN). A purified paraffinic mineral oil and an alkyl-naphthalene (AN) were used as references for non-ester base lubricants. The wear behavior of silicon nitride lubricated with the polyol esters exhibited the accelerated wear. The wear rate of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} increased with increasing temperature when lubricated with PETN and DPHN. The wear rate of steel lubricated with TMP-m and that of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} lubricated with AN increased with increasing temperature. In contrast with these observations, however, the wear rate of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} decreased with increasing temperature only when it was lubricated with two TMPs. The tribochemical degradation of polyol esters at high temperature is hypothesized for the temperature effect characteristics. 16 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.

OSTI ID:
494181
Journal Information:
Lubrication Engineering, Journal Name: Lubrication Engineering Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 52; ISSN 0024-7154; ISSN LUENAG
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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