Abstract
Aqueous lubrication is commonly regarded as friendly to the environment. We review current knowledge of the behaviors and mechanisms of aqueous lubrication. Major methods for investigating aqueous lubrication are addressed. We describe studies on both friction and film formation performance of various water-based lubricants. Additionally, we discuss possible underlying mechanisms of aqueous lubrication. Attention is also drawn to continuing topics of investigation and some unsolved problems.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Raviv U, Giasson S, Kampf N, et al. Lubrication by charged polymers. Nature, 2003, 425: 163–165
Hirano M, Shinjo K, Kaneko R, et al. Observation of superlubricity by scanning tunneling microscopy. Phys Rev Lett, 2007, 78: 1448–1451
Erdemir A, Martin J M. Superlubricity. London: Elsevier, 2007
Ma Z Z, Zhang C H, Luo J B, et al. Superlubricity of a mixed aqueous solution. Chin Phys Lett, 2011, 28: 056201
Li J J, Zhang C H, Luo J B. Superlubricity behavior with phosphoric acid-water network induced by rubbing. Langmuir, 2011, 27: 9413–9417
Shen M W, Luo J B, Wen S Z. The tribological properties of oils added with diamond nano-particles. STLE Tribol Trans, 2001, 44: 494–498
Peng D X, Kang Y, Chen C H, et al. The tribological behavior of modified diamond nanoparticles in liquid paraffin. Ind Lubr Tribol, 2009, 61: 213–219
Greenberg R, Halperin G, Etsion I, et al. The effect of WS2 nanoparticles on friction reduction in various lubrication regimes. Tribol Lett, 2004, 17: 179–186
Chu H Y, Hsu W C, Lin J F. The anti-scuffing performance of diamond nano-particles as an oil additive. Wear, 2010, 268: 960–967
Shen M W, Luo J B, Wen S Z, et al. Nano-tribological properties and mechanisms of the liquid crystal as an additive. Chin Sci Bull, 2001, 46: 1227–1232
Luo J B, Hu Y Z, Wen S Z. Physics and Chemistry of Micro-/Nanotribology. Maryland in USA: ASTM International, 2008
Chang L, Luo J B, Zhang W. Mechanical characteristics of SiO2 electrets. Sci China Ser E-Technol Sci, 2002, 45: 444–448
Luo J B, He Y, Zhong M, et al. Gas bubble phenomenon in nanoscale liquid film under external electric field. Appl Phys Lett, 2006, 89: 013104
Xie G X, Luo J B, Liu S H, et al. ’Freezing’ of nanoconfined fluids under an electric field. Langmuir, 2010, 26: 1445–1448
Xie G X, Luo J B, Guo D, et al. Nanoconfined ionic liquids under electric fields. Appl Phys Lett, 2010, 96: 043112
Liu L, Tiffany J, Dang Z X, et al. Nourish and nurture: Development of a nutrient ocular lubricant. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2009, 50: 2932–2939
Noble P, Lumay G, Coninx M, et al. A pendulum test as a tool to evaluate viscous friction parameters in the equine fetlock joint. Vet J, 2011, 188: 204–209
Bokade V V, Yadav G D. Synthesis of bio-diesel and bio-lubricant by transesterification of vegetable oil with lower and higher alcohols over heteropolyacids supported by clay (K-10). Process Saf Environ Prot, 2007, 85: 372–377
Xu J, Luo J B, Liu S H, et al. Tribological characteristics of aloe mucilage. Tribol Mater Surf Interfaces, 2008, 2: 72–76
Etsion I, Kligerman Y, Halperin G. Analytical and experimental investigation of laser-textured mechanical seal faces. Tribol Trans, 1999, 42: 511–516
Etsion I. State of the art in laser surface texturing. J Trib Trans ASME, 2005, 127: 248–253
Zhou Y Q, Shao T M, Yin L. A method of micro-laser surface texturing based on optical fiber focusing. Laser Phys, 2009, 19: 1061–1066
Ma L R, Luo J B, Zhang C H, et al. Effect of microcontent of oil in water under confined condition. Appl Phys Lett, 2009, 95: 091908
Ma L R, Zhang C H, Luo J B. Investigation of the film formation mechanism of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. Soft Matter, 2011, 7: 4207–4213
Wang Y X, Wang L P, Xue Q J. Controlling wear failure of graphite-like carbon film in aqueous environment: Two feasible approaches. Appl Surf Sci, 2011, 257: 4370–4376
Ratoi M, Spikes H A. Lubricating properties of aqueous surfactant solutions. Tribol Trans, 1999, 42: 479–486
Wong P L, Huang P, Meng Y. The effect of the electric double layer on a very thin water lubricating film. Tribol Lett, 2003, 14: 197–203
Dowson D. History of Tribology. London: Longman, 1979
Jay G D, Haberstroh K, Cha C J. Comparison of the boundary-lubricating ability of bovine synovial fluid, lubricin, and Healon. J Biomed Mater Res, 1998, 40: 414–418
Chen M, Briscoe W H, Armes S P, et al. Lubrication at physiological pressures by polyzwitterionic brushes. Science, 2009, 323: 1698–1701
Jost H P. Tribology: The first 25 years and beyond-achievements shortcomings and future tasks. Ind Lubr Tribol, 1992, 44: 22–27
Klein J. Shear of liquid films confined to molecular dimensions. J Non-Cryst Solids, 1998, 235: 422–427
Mate C M, McClelland G M, Erlansson R, et al. Atomic-scale friction of a tungsten tip on a graphite surface. Phys Rev Lett, 1987, 59: 1942–1946
Du Q, Freysz E, Shen Y R. Vibrational spectra of water molecules at quartz/water interfaces. Phys Rev Lett, 1994, 72: 238–241
Ostroverkhov V, Waychunas G A, Shen Y R. New information on water interfacial structure revealed by phase-sensitive surface spectroscopy. Phys Rev Lett, 2005, 94: 046102
Hu J, Xiao X D, Ogletree D F, et al. Imaging the condensation and evaporation of molecularly thin films of water with nanometer resolution. Science, 1995, 268: 267–269
Vergaguer A, Sacha G M, Bluhm H, et al. Molecular structure of water at interfaces: Wetting at the nanometer scale. Chem Rev, 2006, 106: 1478–1510
Bhushan B, Israelachvili J N, Landman U. Nanotriboloy: Friction, wear and lubrication at the atomic scale. Nature, 1995, 374: 607–616
Gane N, Bowden F P. Microdeformation of solids. J Appl Phys, 1968, 39: 1432–1435
Pollock H M, Shufflebottom P, Skinner J. Contact adhesion between solids in vacuum: I. Single-asperity experiments. J Phys D-Appl Phys, 1977, 10: 127–138
Israelachvili J N. Thin film studies using multiple-beam interferometry. J Colloid Interf Sci, 1973, 44: 259–271
Granick S, Demirel A L, Cai L L, et al. Soft matter in a tight spot: Nanorheology of confined liquids and block copolymers. Israel J Chem, 1995, 35: 75–84
Raviv U, Laurat P, Klein J. Fluidity of water confined to subnanometre films. Nature, 2001, 413: 51–54
Cameron A, Goha R. Theoretical and experimental studies of the oil film in lubricated point contact. Proc R Soc A, 1966, 291: 520–536
Foord C A, Hammann W C, Cameron A. Evaluation of lubricants using optical elastohydrodynamics. ASLE Trans, 1968, 11: 31–43
Westlake F J. An interferometric study of ultra-thin fluid films. Doctoral Dissertation. London: University of London, 1970
Spikes H A, Guangteng G. Properties of ultra-thin lubricating film using wedged spacer layer optical interferometry. Tribol Ser, 1988, 12: 275–279
Johnston G J, Wayte R, Spikes H A. The measurement and study of very thin lubricant films in concentrated contact. STLE Tribol Trans, 1991, 34: 187–194
Cann P M, Spikes H A, Hutchinson J. The development of a spacer layer imaging method (SLIM) for mapping elastohydrodynamic contacts. STLE Tribol Trans, 1996, 39: 915–921
Spikes H A, Cann P M. The development and application of the spacer layer imaging method for measuring lubricant film thickness. Proc Instn Mech Eng Part J-J Eng Tribol, 2001, 215: 261–277
Glovnea R P, Forrest A K, Olver A V, et al. Measurement of sub-nanometer lubricant films using ultra-thin film interferometry. Tribol Lett, 2003, 15: 217–230
Spikes H, Granick S. Equation for slip of simple liquids at smooth solid surfaces. Langmuir, 2003, 19: 5065–5071
Luo J B, Wen S Z, Huang P. Thin film lubrication, 1. Study on the transition between EHL and thin film lubrication using a relative optical interference intensity technique. Wear, 1996, 194: 107–115
Luo J B, Wen S Z. Mechanism and characteristics of thin film lubrication at nanometer scale. Sci China Ser A-Math, 1996, 39: 1312–1322
Luo J B, Shen M W, Wen S Z. Tribological properties of nanoliquid film under an external electric field. J Appl Phys, 2004, 96: 6733–6738
Ma L R, Zhang C H. Discussion on the technique of relative optical interference intensity for the measurement of lubricant film thickness. Tribol Lett, 2009, 36: 239–245
Roberts A D, Tabor D. The extrusion of liquids between highly elastic solids. Proc R Soc Lond A, 1971, 325: 323–345
Boschkova K, Kronberg B, Stalgren J J R, et al. Lubrication in aqueous solutions using cationic surfactants-A study of static and dynamic forces. Langmuir, 2002, 18: 1680–1687
Luo J B, Wen S Z, Li K Y, et al. Progress and problems in nano-tribology. Chin Sci Bull, 1998, 43: 369–378
Toney M F, Howard J N, Richer J, et al. Voltage-dependent ordering of water molecules at an electrode-electrolyte interface. Nature, 1994, 368: 444–446
Johnston G J, Wayte R, Spikes H A. Measurement and study of very thin lubricant films in concentrated contacts. Tribol Trans, 1991, 34: 187–194
Peschel G, Adlfinger K H. Viscosity anomalies in liquid surface zones. J Colloid Interf Sci, 1970, 34: 505–510
Zhu Y, Granick S. Viscosity of interfacial water. Phys Rev Lett, 2001, 87: 096104
Horn R G, Smith D T, Haller W. Surface forces and viscosity of water measured between silica sheets. Chem Phys Lett, 1989, 162: 404–408
Klein J, Raviv U, Perkin S, et al. Fluidity of water and of hydrated ions confined between solid surfaces to molecularly thin films. J Phys: Condens Matter, 2004, 108: S5437–S5448
Raviv U, Klein J. Fluidity of bound hydration layers. Science, 2002, 297: 1540–1543
Donose B C, Vakarelski I U, Higashitani K. Silica surfaces lubrication by hydrated cations adsorption from electrolyte solutions. Langmuir, 2005, 21: 1834–1839
Schmid S R, Wilson W R D. Lubrication mechanisms for oil in water emulsion. Lubr Eng, 1996, 52: 168–175
Hoglund E. Influence of lubricant properties on elastohydrodynamic lubrication. Wear, 1999, 232: 176–184
Zhu D, Biresaw G, Clark S J, et al. Elastodydrodynamic lubrication with O/W emulsions. ASME J Trib, 1994, 116: 310–320
Ma L R. Research on the lubricating characteristics and mechanisms of aqueous emulsions. Doctoral Dissertation. Beijing: Tsinghua University, 2010
Boschkova K, Feiler A, Kronberg B, et al. Adsorption and frictional properties of Gemini surfactants at solid surfaces. Langmuir, 2002, 18: 7930–7935
Boschkova K, Elvesjo J, Kronberg B. Frictional properties of lyotropic liquid crystalline mesophases at surfaces. Colloid Surf A-Physicochem Eng Asp, 2000, 166: 67–77
Liu S H. Studies on lubricating mechanisms and tribological properties of aqueous solutions. Doctoral Dissertation. Beijing: Tsinghua University, 2008
Lee S, Müller M, Ratoi-Salagean M, et al. Boundary lubrication of oxide surfaces by poly(L-lysine)-g-poly (ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) in aqueous media. Tribol Lett, 2003, 15: 231–239
Plaza S, Margielewskia L, Celichowskia G, et al. Tribological performance of some polyoxyethylene dithiophosphate derivatives water solutions. Wear, 2001, 249: 1077–1089
Wang J Z, Yan F Y, Xue Q J. Tribological behaviors of some polymeric materials in sea water. Chin Sci Bull, 2009, 54: 4541–4548
Jiang W, Luo J B, Wen S Z. Tribological properties of OTS self-assembled monolayers. Chin Sci Bull, 2001, 46: 698–702
Kimura Y, Okada K. Film thickness at elastohydrodynamic conjunctions lubricated with oil-in-water emulsions. Proc I Mech E, 1987, C176: 85–90
Kimura Y, Okada K. Lubricating properties of oil-in-water emulsions. Tribol Trans, 1989, 32: 523–532
Ratoi M, Spikes H A. Optimizing film formation by oil-in-water emulsions. Tribol Trans, 1997, 40: 569–578
Schey J A. Tribology in Metalworking. Ohio: American Society for Metals, 1983
Chiu Y P. An analysis and prediction of lubricant film starvation in rolling contact systems. ASLE Trans, 1974, 17: 22–35
Wilson W R D, Sakaguchi Y, Schmid S. A mixed flow model for lubrication with emulsions. STLE Tribol Trans, 1994, 37: 543–551
de Vicente J, Stokes J R, Spikes H A. Lubrication properties of non-adsorbing polymer solutions in soft elastohydrodynamic (EHD) contacts. Tribol Int, 2005, 38: 515–526
de Vicente J, Stokes J R, Spikes H A. Soft lubrication of model hydrocolloids. Food Hydrocolloid, 2006, 20: 483–491
Xu J G, Kato K, Hirayama T. The transition of wear mode during the running-in process of silicon nitride sliding in water. Wear, 1997, 205: 55–63
Xu J G, Kato K. Formation of tribochemical layer of ceramics sliding in water and its role for low friction. Wear, 2000, 245: 61–75
Chen M, Kato K, Adachi K. The difference in running-in period and friction coefficient between self-mated Si3N4 and SiC under water lubrication. Tribol Lett, 2001, 11: 23–28
Chen M, Kato K, Adachi K. The comparisons of sliding speed and normal load effect on friction coefficients of self-mated Si3N4 and SiC under water lubrication. Tribol Int, 2002, 35: 129–135
Jahanmir S, Ozmen Y, Ives L K. Water lubrication of silicon nitride in sliding. Tribol Lett, 2004, 17: 409–417
Zhang W G, Liu W M, Xue Q J. Friction and wear behaviors of a (Ca,Mg)-Sialon/SAE 52100 steel pair under the lubrication of various polyols as water-based lubricating additives. Tribol Int, 2000, 33: 769–775
Wei J J, Xue Q J. The friction and wear properties of Cr2O3 coating with aqueous lubrication. Wear, 1996, 199: 157–159
Kalin K, Novak S, Vizintin J. Surface charge as a new concept for boundary lubrication of ceramics with water. J Phys D-Appl Phys, 2006, 39: 3138–3149
Ohana T, Suzuki M, Nakamura T, et al. Tribological properties of DLC films deposited on steel substrate with various surface roughness. Diam Relat Mater, 2004, 13: 2211–2215
Zhou F, Adachi K, Kato K. Friction and wear properties of a-CNx coatings sliding against ceramic and steel ball in water. Diam Relat Mater, 2005, 14: 1711–1720
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Rights and permissions
This article is published under an open access license. Please check the 'Copyright Information' section either on this page or in the PDF for details of this license and what re-use is permitted. If your intended use exceeds what is permitted by the license or if you are unable to locate the licence and re-use information, please contact the Rights and Permissions team.
About this article
Cite this article
Ma, L., Zhang, C. & Liu, S. Progress in experimental study of aqueous lubrication. Chin. Sci. Bull. 57, 2062–2069 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-012-5031-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-012-5031-4