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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

A study of the chemical mechanism in lubrication

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6672529
Boundary lubrication is receiving increased emphasis today, especially with respect to advanced materials. An attempt is made to develop an overall framework to guide developmental efforts. The chemical reaction between the material surface and the lubricant is complex; many reactions occur in parallel between the major elements and their oxides and the minor elements on the surface with lubricant, which usually contain N, O, S, and P compounds. Reaction rates are influenced by surface energy as influenced by rubbing. The reaction products could be inorganic in nature, such as hydrides, nitrides; as well as organic in nature, such as organometallic polymers. These products can act as an effective lubricant as well as exhibiting neutral or detrimental effects on friction/wear. Good lubricating film should have strong adhesion to surface, good lateral bonding to form coherent films, and high shear resistance. Detrimental products usually have high corrositivity such as organic acids, weak surface adhesion, and incoherent film structure.
Research Organization:
National Inst. of Standards and Technology (MSEL), Gaithersburg, MD (United States). Ceramics Div.
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AI05-84ER13230
OSTI ID:
6672529
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13230-T2; ON: DE93012230
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English