Tribological Properties and Film Formation Behavior of Thermoreversible Gel Lubricants

• Published in: Tribology transactions Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 722 - 730
• Main Authors: Ohno, Nobuyoshi, Mia, Sobahan, Masuhara, Kazuo, Sonoda, Kentaro, Yamashita, Yuji, Tamura, Yoshitaka, Morita, Shigeki, Shitara, Yuji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.09.2010; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Adsorb Film Formation; Adsorption; Applied sciences; Ball bearings; Bearing Fatigue Life; Bearings; Bearings, bushings, rolling bearings; Drives; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Friction, wear, lubrication; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Gelation; Greases; High-Pressure Rheology; Liquids; Lubricants; Machine components; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Melting; Oil Film Formation; Physics; Rheology; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Thrust; TR Gel Lube; Tribology; Lubricating oil; High-Pressure Rheology; Rolling bearing; Ball bearing; Thrust bearing; Adsorb Film Formation; TR Gel Lube; Fatigue life; Liquid state; Rheology; Film formation; Physical gel; Durability; Life test; Experimental study; Lubricating grease; High pressure; Mechanical test; Lubricating film; Pressure effect; Adsorption; Oil Film Formation; Bearing Fatigue Life; Melting point; Tribology
• ISSN: 1040-2004; 1547-397X
• DOI: 10.1080/10402001003739936

The tribological properties of a new and unique thermoreversible gel lubricant (TR gel lube) were investigated. TR gel lube, which includes 10-40% of amide-type gelling agent in base fluid, is able to repeatedly alter or convert phase from gel state to liquid state at the melting point of the gelling agent. High-pressure rheological tests were performed in order to characterize the behavior of base oil and TR gel lube as a function of pressure and temperature. The effect of TR gel lube on ball bearing fatigue life was carried out by systematic tests using thrust ball bearings. The results of L 10 life tests of TR gel lube showed a longer life than the conventional greases. This result was investigated from the oil film formation. It was found that the gelling agent played a key role in the lubricating properties. Some mechanisms such as adsorbed film formation and solid-like formation are proposed.