Research in the field of tribochemistry aims to understand the chemical reactions occurring when two bodies are in sliding and or in rolling contact and also to elucidate the mechanism of film formation also in the presence of lubricant additives. Such compounds are intended to reduce wear and control friction, especially when used in the lubrication of mechanical parts under harsh engine oil conditions. At the same time they should be able to reduce energy consumption and be environmentally compatible and sustainable. The synergic combination of experimental and computational resources that is currently applied has the potential to lead to the discovery of new molecules that bring significant innovations in the design of lubricants. In this presentation, I will review the challenges in obtaining well-defined tribological films with reproducible chemical properties, such that the coefficients of friction and wear can be correlated with changes in the surface properties. Examples will be presented on the effect of sliding time, load, temperature, humidity and oxygen in the tribological performances of films formed in the presence of ionic liquids, zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZnDTPs) and phosphorothionates. Special emphasis will be given to the progress achieved by the application of surface-analytical techniques in determining the composition and the structure of the tribological films.The importance of producing glasses with very well defined chemical and mechanical properties - similar to those compositions identified in the tribological films - will also be discussed, together with the importance of the complementary information obtained by the use of in situ techniques.

Challenges and opportunities in the surface characterization of tribological films

248th National Meeting (2014)

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