Tribological performances of two ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) as nanolubricants on polyether-ether-ketone surface.

This paper seeks to address the potential of using ionic liquids as nanolubricants on Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) surface. We characterize the tribological properties of two ionic liquids, namely1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. The tribological data are compared with those of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) and Multiply Alkylated Cyclopentanes (MAC) data obtained from previous study. Ionic liquids at lower concentration of 0.4wt% (in solution prior to deposition) showed lower wear lives as compared to those for PFPE and MAC. However, at higher concentration of 4wt%, these ionic liquids have the same wear lives as those of PFPE and MAC, but show considerably lower coefficients of friction. Mechanisms of nanolubrication for ionic lubricantsvis-a-visthose of PFPE and MAC are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]