Experimental study of ultrathin liquid lubrication film thickness at the molecular scale

Abstract

Ultrathin liquid lubrication film thicknesses at the molecular scale are measured by a new apparatus developed by the authors. Mica is used as the solid specimen and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (OMCTS), cyclohexane and n-hexadecane are used as liquid specimens. From experimental measurements, discretization of the lubrication film thickness is observed when the thickness is less than about 10 times the molecular diameter of the intervening liquid. Analysis of experimental data shows that the discretization of the lubrication film thickness is due to the solvation force. Dynamic measurements show that the solvation force is almost the same as the non-sliding case and is independent of the sliding speed of the solid surface.