Effect of consolidation in boundary lubrication

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the effects of the colloidal aspect in boundary lubrication. The newly developed method for surface forces measurement has clearly shown the consolidation effect during contact loading.

The paper also shows that, in some cases, the friction coefficient varies with the compaction of wear particles in the contact. Friction experiments between a ball and flat (both sapphire) in which the contact is immersed in water, have been performed to understand the effect of compaction of worn material on friction. During friction, wear debris is piled up in the contact and shear behaviour depends on pressure and volume fraction of wear particles.