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  5. Macroscale superlubricity and polymorphism of long-chain n-alcohols
 
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Macroscale superlubricity and polymorphism of long-chain n-alcohols
File(s)
Alcohol Superlubricity paper-revised-3_clean.pdf (1.38 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Reddyhoff, Tom
Ewen, James
Deshpande, Pushkar
Frogley, Mark
Welch, Mark
more
Type
Journal Article
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.
Date Issued
2021-02-24
Date Acceptance
2021-02-02
Citation
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2021, 13 (7), pp.9239-9251
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/87616
URL
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.0c21918
DOI
https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c21918
ISSN
1944-8244
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
9239
End Page
9251
Journal / Book Title
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume
13
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
© 2021 American Chemical Society. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c21918
Sponsor
Royal Academy Of Engineering
Identifier
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.0c21918
Grant Number
RF\201920\19\269
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
friction
superlubricity
polymorphism
elastohydrodynamic lubrication
tribology
1-dodecanol
1-dodecanol
elastohydrodynamic lubrication
friction
polymorphism
superlubricity
tribology
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
03 Chemical Sciences
09 Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-02-10
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