Investigation of tribochemical behavior of Al-Si alloy against itself lubricated by amines

The friction and wear properties of Al-Si alloy against Al-Si alloy was investigated using an Optimol SRV Tester with the lubrication of pure ethyleneglycol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine and triethylenetetramine. The tribo-chemical reactions and the compositions of the boundary film formed on the rubbed surface of Al-Si alloy were examined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS). The wear debris of Al-Si with the lubrication of triethylenetetramine was collected and evaluated with FT-IR, and thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis. Friction and wear tests reveal that triethylenetetramine shows the best antiwear capabilities among the tested compounds. The results of FT-IR, TG and XPS indicate the occurrence of tribo-chemical reactions between Al and amine with the formation of a chemically stable complex of aluminum and amine, as well as the formation of friction polymer. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.