Abstract
This study explored the relationship between the solubility of additives in base oils and their friction-reduction efficacy using cetyl alcohol as a model additive. Atomic force microscope friction tests demonstrated that the friction-reduction effect of cetyl alcohol varied significantly across the base oils. The solvation free energy was computed to evaluate the solubility of cetyl alcohol. A direct proportional relationship between friction-reduction and solvation free energy was observed, indicating additives with lower solubility have better friction-reduction performance. Neutron reflectometry experiments and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that lower solubility correlates with stronger adsorption. This study quantitatively clarified the relationship between solubility, adsorption, and friction reduction, providing insights into optimizing lubricant formulations and contributing to a deeper understanding of boundary lubrication mechanisms.
Published Version
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