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Reddyhoff T, Ewen JP, Deshpande P, Frogley MD, Welch MD, Montgomery W. Macroscale Superlubricity and Polymorphism of Long-Chain n-Alcohols. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:9239-9251. [PMID: 33565870 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c21918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Simple n-alcohols, such as 1-dodecanol, show anomalous film-forming and friction behaviors under elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) conditions, as found inside bearings and gears. Using tribometer, diamond anvil cell (DAC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments, we show that liquid 1-dodecanol undergoes a pressure-induced solidification when entrained into EHL contacts. Different solid polymorphs are formed inside the contact depending on the temperature and pressure conditions. Surprisingly, at a moderate temperature and pressure, 1-dodecanol forms a polymorph that exhibits robust macroscale superlubricity. The DAC and DSC experiments show that superlubricity is facilitated by the formation of lamellar, hydrogen-bonded structures of hexagonally close-packed molecules, which promote interlayer sliding. This novel superlubricity mechanism is similar to that proposed for the two-dimensional materials commonly employed as solid lubricants, but it also enables the practical advantages of liquid lubricants to be maintained. When the pressure is increased, 1-dodecanol undergoes a polymorphic transformation into a phase that gives a higher friction. The DAC and DSC experiments indicate that the high-friction polymorph is an orthorhombic crystal. The polymorphic transformation pressure coincides with the onset of a dimple formation in the EHL films, revealing that the anomalous film shapes are caused by the formation of rigid orthorhombic crystals inside the contact. This is the first demonstration of a macroscale superlubricity in an EHL contact lubricated by a nonaqueous liquid that arises from bulk effects rather than tribochemical transformations at the surfaces. Since the superlubricity observed here results from phase transformations, it is continuously self-replenishing and is insensitive to surface chemistry and topology. This discovery creates the possibility of implementing superlubricity in a wide range of machine components, which would result in enormous improvements in efficiency and durability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Reddyhoff
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - James P Ewen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Pushkar Deshpande
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Mark D Frogley
- Soft Condensed Matter Group, Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Mark D Welch
- Department of Earth Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
| | - Wren Montgomery
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Imaging and Analysis Centre, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
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