The elastohydrodynamic behaviour of polyphenyl ether

Abstract

The paper describes measurements of the film thickness and traction given in elastohydrodynamic lubrication by polyphenyl ether. The film thickness is well below the theoretical value and very sensitive to temperature but its variation with load is of the theoretical magnitude. The tractional behaviour is more complex than that of mineral oils and this is thought to be due to the variation of the pressure distribution with speed and load. The results indicate that the fluid behaves elastically when the slip is small, even at the lowest load. Above a critical stress the relation between the shear stress and the rate of shear becomes non-linear. The non-Newtonian characteristics of this ’elastic’ fluid then become similar to those of a ‘viscous’ fluid.