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Abstract  This study has investigated potential links between tribological performance and the morphology of tribofilms formed from anti-wear additives with application to metal V-belt pushing type continuously variable transmission fluids (B-CVTFs). The influence of metal–metal tribological properties of anti-wear additives was evaluated using a ball on plate tribometer, enabling friction and lubricant film formation to be monitored during reciprocating tests. Contact mode atomic force microscopy was utilised to investigate the nature of tribofilms at the nanometre scale. As a result, an additive formulation composed of hydrogen phosphite and over-based calcium sulphonate in a hydro-cracked mineral Group II base oil demonstrated a synergism with 8% higher friction coefficient and more stable film formation than the individual additive cases, providing a positive outcome for a B-CVTF. Tribofilm species produced by a chemical reaction between hydrogen phosphite and over-based calcium sulphonate were densely deposited on the wear scar to form a rougher surface, which may explain the higher friction observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavitation has been extensively treated in numerical models for lubrication using boundary conditions in the pressure equation, and several criteria are available. However, an inappropriate choice can lead to imprecise results, thus having serious implications for performance prediction. This work proposes the numerical solution for lubrication analysing the changes suffered by the lubricant along a journal bearing, considering the release of gas from the liquid and the existence of a two-phase flow. Results obtained are compared with those using the Reynolds, or Swift-Steiber, boundary condition. The influence of fluid properties on the main parameters of bearing operation is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A residence time of approximately 60s for lubricant in the piston ring pack of a gasoline engine, running at 1500rpm, 50% throttle, has been measured by adding a hydrocarbon marker to the oil in the sump and monitoring its build up in oil extracted from the top ring groove. Comparison of the rate of increase of oxidised products in the sump with the level of oxidation in the ring pack allows a rate of flow of oil entering the ring pack from the sump to be calculated as approximately 0.4cm3min-1 cylinder-1, with at least 88% returning to the sump and the remainder lost into the combustion chamber. The volume of oil in the ring pack was determined as approximately 0.4cm3 cylinder-1, approximately one quarter of the free volume available between the top of the oil control ring and the top piston ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest challenges in engine tribology is to formulate appropriate lubricants, which will increase fuel efficiency by reducing friction, yet still provide good wear resistance. The lubricant should also be formulated to limit particulate and gaseous exhaust emissions to the levels allowed by current regulations. In real lubricant formulations there can be 10–15 additives and the interactions between additives must be taken into account. The effects of eliminating the friction modifier and friction modifier plus anti-wear additive zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) from the additive package of fully formulated lubricants on friction, wear and wear film forming characteristics have been examined. Tests have been conducted under lubricated wear conditions at bulk oil temperatures of 20, 50, and 100 °C using a reciprocating pin-on-plate tribometer. Boundary lubrication conditions were varied according to the value of starting lambda ratio. The wear film has been examined by Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). In order to investigate the morphology of the reaction films formed by the additive packages of these lubricants, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used. In this paper it has been shown that tribofilms, derived from ZDDP/surface interactions, affect friction, the extent of which is determined by tribological conditions. Detergent interactions with ZDDP enhance the complexity of the tribofilm and enrich the level of C in the film whilst affecting the friction and wear response. Through integration of tribological measurements and surface analysis, progress towards improving the nature of interactions is made and forms the focus of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]