Tribological Performance and Lubrication Mechanism of Carbon Microspheres as Oil-based Lubricant Additive on Aluminum Alloy Substrate

doi:10.15541/jim20160459

Abstract

Abstract:

A one-step green hydrothermal method was used to prepare carbon microspheres with size of 400-500 nm by using glucose as the precursor compound. Morphologies and chemical properties of the carbon microspheres were characterized by means of SEM and FTIR. Their tribological properties as the lubricant additive were evaluated on aluminum-steel sliding contact by using a multi-functional friction and wear tester. The lubrication mechanism was also discussed. The results indicate that the carbon microspheres possess good friction-reducing and antiwear performance when they are used as the lubricant additive in both liquid paraffin and 0W-40 engine oil on aluminum-on-steel pairs. Carbon microspheres may enter the contact region and prevent the direct contact of the friction pair. At the same time, they may play a role as micro-nanospheres between the sliding contacts to provide an excellent lubricating effect.

Key words: tribological properties, carbon microspheres, lubricant additive, aluminum alloy

CLC Number:

TH117

GU Yu-Kang, CAO Lei, WAN Yong, GAO Jian-Guo. Tribological Performance and Lubrication Mechanism of Carbon Microspheres as Oil-based Lubricant Additive on Aluminum Alloy Substrate[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2017, 32(6): 625-630.

Figures/Tables 11

Table 1 Compositions of 5052 aluminum alloy/wt%

Si	Fe	Cu	Mg	Cr	Mn	Al
0.08	0.32	0.02	2.39	0.18	0.08	Balance

Fig. 1 SEM image of carbon microspheres

Fig. 2 FT-IR spectrum of carbon microspheres

Fig. 3 Evolution of frictional coefficient with sliding time

Fig. 4 Surface profiles across the wear scans

Fig. 5 Change of friction coefficient and wear quantity with the applied load

Fig. 6 Frictional performance of different lubricants

Fig. 7 Surface profiles across the wear scans

Fig. 8 SEM images of the worn surface

Fig. 9 Pictures of the contact area on ball-on-disk tester at different sliding speeds

Fig. 10 Schematic diagram of lubrication mechanism of carbon microspheres

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