Effects of Oxidative Deterioration of Lubricating Oil on Tribological Characteristics of Aluminum Bronze Porous Materials

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a demand for technology for achieving carbon neutrality. To meet this demand, technologies such as reduction of production energy, weight reduction of raw materials, and recycling have been studied for vehicle on-board electrical equipment. Aluminum bronze, which is one of the metal materials with low melting point and low density, has the properties that facilitate achievement of carbon neutrality. In this study, a porous aluminum bronze material was used for sliding parts, and a pin-on-disk friction test and a chemical analysis were conducted with the sliding material oxidized in a high temperature atmosphere. The effect of the exposure time of the sliding material on the tribological (friction) characteristics was experimentally investigated. The results showed that the viscosity of the lubricating oil impregnated in the porous aluminum bronze material was significantly changed with the exposure time, affecting the friction characteristics. Moreover, the oxidation product of this lubricating oil was adsorbed on the surface of the sliding part material, and resulted in a marked change of the friction characteristics.