Friction and wear behaviour of an Al-Si alloy against steel lubricated with N-and O-containing organic compounds

The friction and wear properties of an Al-Si alloy against AISI 52100 steel were investigated with a block-on-ring wear tester lubricated with a liquid paraffin base oil containing organic additive compounds, such as ethylenediamine, ethyleneglycol, ethanolamine, and N,N-dibutylethanolamine. The boundary film formed on the rubbed surface of the Al-Si alloy was then examined using FT-IR microscopy and XPS. The friction and wear tests revealed that ethylenediamine, ethanolamine and N,N-dibutylethanolamine additives provide good lubrication in the Al-Si alloy-on-steel system, especially N,N-dibutylethanolamine. FT-IR microscopy and XPS revealed the possible formation of a chemically stable five-ring complex of aluminium or silicon with diamine and ethanolamine.