Capillary electroosmosis properties of water lubricants with different electroosmotic additives under a steel-on-steel sliding interface

Abstract The process of lubricant penetration into frictional interfaces has not been fully established, hence compromising their tribological performance. In this study, the characteristics deionized water (DI water) containing an electroosmotic suppressant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) and promoter (sodium lauriminodipropionate (SLI)), were investigated using steel-on-steel friction pairs. results indicated that with reduced coefficient wear scar diameter, whereas exhibited opposite behavior compared DI water. addition SLI promoted solution, thus resulting in formation a thick lubricating film iron oxide at sliding surface. This effectively abrasion damage, leading to lower loss.