Study of the Regenerated Layer on the Worn Surface of a Cylinder Liner Lubricated by a Novel Silicate Additive in Lubricating Oil

Abstract

Some special silicate particles as additives in lubricating oil have shown a certain self-repairing function for the rubbing pairs of industrial equipment in recent R&D of extreme pressure antiwear additives. This article introduces an investigation on the regenerated layer on the worn surface of a practical cylinder liner lubricated by lubricating oil with a silicate additive using some advanced techniques like transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nano-hardness tester, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and Raman spectroscopy. The basic formula of the mineral in the silicate additive is Al4[Si4O10](OH)4. Through some macro- and microanalyses, it was found that the silicate additive showed an obvious improving effect on their friction surface and self-repairing function. The roughness of the worn surface could be decreased greatly to several tens of nanometers, and its hardness was still above 10 GPa. The worn surface with some pits and cracks had been covered by a transparent regenerated layer, and the wear of cylinder liners was maintained at almost zero-wear level on average. The mechanism of the self-repairing function was approached. It was revealed that the silicate additive was acting as a catalyst to promote a series of complex tribochemical reactions to form a regenerated layer with amorphous carbon structure on the worn surface under high-friction temperature and pressure in the friction and wear process.