A Study on the Nature of Boundary Lubricating Film: Analytical Method Development

The nature of the boundary lubricating film and its formation mechanism has been the subject of research in the last several decades. This study describes the development of a novel analytical technique designed specifically for the analysis of small amounts of lubricating film using an integrated size exclusion chromatography-refractive index-ultraviolet-graphite furnace atomic absorption (SECRI-UV-GFAA) system. Experiments under static simulation conditions as well as under dynamic rubbing conditions were conducted. Analysis of the reaction products in each case indicates the formation of high molecular weight organometallic compounds with molecular weights range from 1,000 to 100,000. This paper describes the methodology, equipment, and the procedures developed to measure nanogram quantities of the organometallic compounds generated by tribochemical reactions under boundary lubrication conditions.