Friction and wear performance with Cremophor aqueous solutions as lubricant

Abstract

Water-based lubricants are currently studied by many researchers because of their good characteristics, such as relatively high thermal conductivity and environmental friendliness. The aim of this investigation is to present the application possibilities of aqueous solutions for the surfactant Cremophor EL 60 as a lubricating agent and compare it with a mixture of Cremophor EL 60 and triethanolamine borate. Aqueous solutions with various concentrations were prepared, and their tribological performances were investigated with the help of a friction/wear tester, and the wear scar diameters were measured by using a metallurgical microscope. The minimum coefficient of friction obtained approached a value of 0·05, which is a well-lubricated state, and the worn surface attains a quality with a wear scar diameter of 0·5 mm. The results lay credence to the potential of the prepared lubricant as a candidate for use as an industrial lubricant.