Effect of Amide Molecular Structure on Tribological Properties of Thermoreversible Gel Lubricant

Abstract

Thermoreversible gel lubricant (TR gel lube) has been developed as a unique new lubricant. TR gel lube contains a high percentage of aliphatic amide as a gel agent in the base fluid. It is able to repeatedly change from a gel state to a liquid state at the melting point. Therefore, the new lubricant is expected to be useful as an impregnant for porous tribomaterial. In previous research, the lubricants exhibited good lubricity and low friction properties. These tribological properties were depended on the molecular structure and content of amide gel agents. In this study, physicochemical properties of the TR gel lube were examined to discuss in detail the lubrication mechanism. It was revealed that TR gel lube indicated a soft gel compared with general grease by measuring dynamic viscoelasticity. Entropy changes of TR gel lubes were depended on the amide molecular structure by analyzing the thermo dynamical data. Lubricating mechanisms by oiliness effect of adsorbed gel agent and introducing to contact area were proposed.

Keywords

• low friction
• thermoreversible
• gel
• lubricant
• dynamic viscoelasticity