Vegetable oils derivatives as the modifiers of the lubricating properties of water

Water has been used as a lubricating medium in a number of applications in tribology. Its insufficient lubricating properties are modified by appropriate additives. The aim of the tribological studies presented in this paper is an application of a mixture containing triglyceride ethoxylates and partial glycerides as well as esters and a block copolymer as additives. All the components are commercially available and relatively cheap. In order to examine the aqueous solutions, two kinds of tests were carried out on a four-ball apparatus: at the fixed load - measurements of the friction coefficient and wear as a function of time and seizure tests which made it possible to determine the scuffing load (P_t), the seizure load (P_oz) and the limiting pressure of seizure (p_oz). Changes in the quantities measured were analyzed as a function of concentrations ranging from 0.001% to 100%. In the fixed load tests the coefficient of friction decreased almost eight-fold, reaching the lowest value of 0.06 at above 0.1% concentration of the additive. Wear decreased over 3.5-fold. In the seizure tests a relatively high efficiency of the additive package was observed at the concentration of the order of the thousandth part of one percent. The compositions reached the maximum anti-seizure capacity at the concentrations of 4 and 10%. It is particularly interesting to note that the stability of the lubricating film being formed was characterized by the scuffing load. The maximum value of P_t was about 4kN high. Summing up, on the basis of the results obtained it may be concluded that the choice of package additives was correct and it effectively modified the lubricating properties of water.