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Gallium-based liquid metal (GLM) has excellent extreme-pressure properties, but at low sliding speeds, it is typically in a boundary or mixed lubrication, causing poorer properties compared to traditional lubricants. In this paper, GLM/P composite lubricants composed of GLM particles and polydimethylsiloxane are prepared. Under a maximum-Hertz-stress of 0.69 GPa, GLM/P2–30% (viscosity of 1260 mPa∙s) can enter the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) regime at 0.2 m/s, has good EHL properties (friction coefficient of 0.06, wear rate in the order of 10−9 mm3/N·m). Meanwhile, it has high extreme-pressure properties (P B of 2300 N). The EHL film is formed mainly by polydimethylsiloxane, while GLM particles increase the thermal conductivity of lubricant and can be adsorbed on the frictional interfaces, thereby improving the EHL properties. [Display omitted] • GLM/P composite lubricant can enter the elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime under conventional load and low sliding speed. • Lubrication regimes and transition laws of GLM/P are determined by combining Stribeck curve with lubrication film thickness. • The lubrication mechanisms of GLM/P in elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime are revealed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ga-based liquid metals have promising applications as coolants and lubricants in the computer science, medical, and nuclear industries. In this paper, soft metal Cu was used as an additive to improve the lubricating performance of Ga-In-Sn. CuGa 2 phases were in-situ generated. At room temperature (RT, 25 °C) and 150 °C, GC0.2 and GC0.5 (Ga-In-Sn doped with 2 wt% and 5 wt% Cu) exhibited significantly better lubricating properties than Ga-In-Sn. At 150 °C, the wear rate of T91 steel lubricated by GC0.2 was 72.95% lower than that lubricated by Ga-In-Sn. At 300 °C, GC0.2 maintained a similar lubricating performance to that of Ga-In-Sn. The lubrication mechanism showed that the change in lubricant characteristics and friction film were the main factors to improve the lubricity. • Novel Cu-doped gallium-based liquid metals were successfully prepared. • CuGa2 phases could be in-situ generated in Cu-doped liquid metal. • GC0.2 exhibited outstanding lubrication performance at RT∼300 °C. • The change of lubricant characteristics and friction film improved the lubricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Extreme pressure lubrication is a great challenge for many mechanical systems like bearings and gears. Here, an novel functional material based on Ga-based liquid metal has been applied to successfully lubricate the steel-ceramic sliding pairs at extreme high load (1500 N), which significantly outperforms other liquid lubricants like oil and ionic liquid. Ga-based liquid metal provides a low friction coefficient (0.11–0.23) and wear rate (10−8-10−7 mm3/Nm) of AISI 52100 steel disc (C 0.98-1.10 Mn 0.25-0.45 P ≤0.025 S ≤0.025 Si 0.15-0.30 Cr 1.30-1.60 Fe 96.5-97.32 , mass %; American Iron and Steel Institute standard) when it slides against Si 3 N 4 balls over a load range 100–1500 N. To elucidating these interesting results, the lubrication mechanisms of Ga-based liquid metal are studied by tribo-surface analysis. Highlights • Liquid metal (LM) provides a new strategy for lubricating the steel-ceramic pairs. • LM displays good lubricity and extraordinary load-bearing for steel-ceramic pairs. • This good property is due to boundary lubrication of LM and nano-scale Ga tribo-film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a bioinspired molecule-dopamine n-butenylamide-was self-assembled on Gallium-based liquid metal (GLM) nanodroplets to introduce vinyl group, and the zwitterionic poly (2-methylacryloxyethyl phosphocholine) (PMPC) was grafted onto GLM nanodroplets via surface-initiated free radical polymerization to obtain hybrid PMPC-GLM microgel. The as-prepared PMPC-GLM microgel has good dispersion stability in aqueous solution (chemical stability > 2 months), and shows excellent antibacterial properties due to the hydration of PMPC and antibacterial effect of Ga3+. Moreover, the hydration layer endows PMPC-GLM microgel with satisfactory tribological properties as an aqueous lubricant additive, with the COF and wear rate reduced by 65% and 62%. In addition to hydration lubrication, the improved tribological performance is attributed to the formation of protective film on the worn surface. [Display omitted] • Gallium-based liquid-metal Nanodroplets hybrid microgel (PMPC-GLM) was successfully prepared. • PMPC-GLM microgel exhibits good chemical stability in water (more than two months). • PMPC-GLM microgel shows excellent lubrication performance as an aqueous additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]