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Influence of Hydrocarbon Base Oil Molecular Structure on Lubricating Properties in Nano-scale Thin Film

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Abstract

In nano-scale thin film, the lubricant molecular structure may have more significant impact to lubricating performance than in bulk states. In order to investigate the influence of hydrocarbon base oil molecular structure to lubricating properties, three base oil samples with different molecular structure were synthesized in this study, the molecular structure was detected. Film thickness and friction coefficient were measured by EHD2 ultra thin film measurement system, and wear scar was evaluated by four-ball tester. The base oil with linear molecular structure show lower film thickness and friction coefficient, even the base oil has higher viscosity and viscosity index than other samples, while the branched structure makes the molecule more rigid than linear one, which increase the film thickness and friction coefficient. The linear molecules with high viscosity index sustained oil film at high temperature, which reduced the wear scar.

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Funding

This work was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (CN) [Grant No. ZR2019BEE073].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai, China

    Weiwei Wang, Shanzhi Sheng, Haitao Tian, Hongdun Zhang & Xiao Zhang

  2. PetroChina Dalian Lubricating Oil R&D Institute, Dalian, China

    Peng Li

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  1. Weiwei Wang
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  2. Peng Li
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  3. Shanzhi Sheng
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  4. Haitao Tian
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  5. Hongdun Zhang
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Correspondence to Weiwei Wang or Xiao Zhang.

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Wang, W., Li, P., Sheng, S. et al. Influence of Hydrocarbon Base Oil Molecular Structure on Lubricating Properties in Nano-scale Thin Film. Tribol Lett 67, 111 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-019-1222-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-019-1222-3

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