Influence of polyalkylmethacrylate and sulphurized ester on oil film thickness in an elastohydrodynamic point contact

Abstract

The aim of this investigation is to determine how additives in a base oil affect the central oil film thickness in an elastohydrodynamic rolling point contact. The experiments have been carried out using a sapphire disc and a steel ball and the film thickness has been measured by means of optical interferometry. A detailed description of the apparatus is given. Two different additives have been used, polyalkylmethacrylate (PMA) and sulphurized ester (SE). Each of them have been mixed in a superrefined naphthenic base oil at five different concentrations. The results show that the central oil film thickness increases with increasing concentration of additive. This is because the additives increase the oil viscosity. If this effect is compensated for, 0.1 wt.% PMA or 0.63–2.5 wt.% SE give the best relative oil film build-up. There is consequently no reason to use more additive in the base oil unless one wants to have a thicker oil film because of the viscosity-increasing effect.