Preparation and Characterization of Oil-Dosed Phases Created by Supercritical Fluid on Polymer Materials

• Published in: Tribology transactions Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 636 - 642
• Main Authors: Hachiya, K., Kichikawa, T., Takajo, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 22.09.2008; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fluids; Friction, wear, lubrication; FTIR; Lubricant Impregnation; Machine components; Materials science; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Mechanical properties; Molecular weight; Physical properties; Polyamines; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Properties and testing; Supercritical processes; Surface Modification; Technology of polymers; Tribology; Ultra high molecular weight ethylene polymer; Lubricating oil; Fourier transformation; Carbon dioxide; Polymer; Supercritical state; Experimental study; Modeling; Surface treatment; Lubricant; Spent oil; Crystalline material; Infrared spectrometry; Impregnation; Depth profile; FTIR; Surface Modification; Amide 66 polymer; Lubrication; Lubricant Impregnation; Polymers; Tribology
• ISSN: 1040-2004; 1547-397X
• DOI: 10.1080/10402000802179575

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polyamide 66 (PA66) were used as model polymers in order to conduct research on the preparation and characterization of oil-dosed phases created by supercritical fluid on polymer materials. Dioctyl adipate (DOA, Mw = 370) and alkyldiphenylether (ADE, Mw = 440) were the lubrication oils used to impregnate the polymer. Oil impregnation conditions were controlled to between 40 and 150°C and 10 and 20 MPa in a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ) environment. Experimental results showed that the total amount of oil impregnation correlated with processing temperature and duration. After impregnation, phases with a crystal structure different from the inside were observed on the polymer surface areas. The depth profile and chemical distribution of oil-dosed phases by scCO 2 impregnation were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR spectroscopy results have shown that it is possible to create phases having high concentrations of lubrication oil at a depth of about 25-30 μm from the surface of polymer materials.