Although lubricant additives can be evaluated by dedicated engine tests, these tests are expensive, time-consuming and do not allow evaluating the mechano-chemical processes at the molecular scale. In this study we investigate the adsorption mechanisms of friction modifiers on steel surfaces using quartz crystal microbalance. The nature of the interaction, i.e. chemi- or physisorption, adsorption kinetics and adsorbed mass on the steel surface was measured as a function of surfactant concentration in base oil, while the friction behavior of the layers was studied using lateral force microscopy in the absence of wear. The relationship between adsorption and friction force will be discussed for additives with different molecular structure.

Relation between adsorption and nanoscale tribological performance of organic friction modifiers

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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