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Title: Ionic liquids composed of phosphonium cations and organophosphate, carboxylate, and sulfonate as lubricant antiwear additives

Journal Article · · Langmuir
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/la5032366· OSTI ID:1185401
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
  2. Cytec Industries Inc., Woodland Park, NJ (United States)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Oil-soluble phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) have recently been reported as potential ashless lubricant additives. This study is to expand the IL chemistry envelope and to achieve fundamental correlations between the ion structures and ILs’ physiochemical and tribological properties. Here we present eight ILs containing two different phosphonium cations and seven different anions from three groups: organophosphate, carboxylate, and sulfonate. The oil solubility of ILs seems largely governed by the IL molecule size and structure complexity. When used as oil additives, the ranking of effectiveness in wear protection for the anions are: organophosphate > carboxylate > sulfonate. All selected ILs outperformed a commercial ashless anti-wear additive. Surface characterization from the top and the cross-section revealed the nanostructures and compositions of the tribo-films formed by the ILs. Some fundamental insights were achieved: branched and long alkyls improve the IL’s oil solubility, anions of a phosphonium-phosphate IL contribute most phosphorus in the tribofilm, and carboxylate anions, though free of P, S, N, or halogen, can promote the formation of an anti-wear tribofilm.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1185401
Journal Information:
Langmuir, Vol. 30, Issue 44; ISSN 0743-7463
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 116 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Evaluation of Friction and Wear Behavior of Date Palm Fruit Syrup as an Environmentally Friendly Lubricant journal May 2019
Impact of Lubricant Oil Additives on the Performance of Pd-Based Three-Way Catalysts journal September 2019
Tribological Improvement Using Ionic Liquids as Additives in Synthetic and Bio-Based Lubricants for Steel–Steel Contacts journal November 2019
Dissolution of Trihexyltetradecylphosphonium Chloride in Supercritical CO2 journal November 2017
Synthesis and antiwear properties of dicarboxylic acid derivatives containing dialkyl dithiophosphate groups journal February 2019
Understanding Tribofilm Formation Mechanisms in Ionic Liquid Lubrication journal August 2017
Tribological Bench and Engine Dynamometer Tests of a Low Viscosity SAE 0W-16 Engine Oil Using a Combination of Ionic Liquid and ZDDP as Anti-Wear Additives journal September 2015