Tribological Properties of Ionic Liquids

Sumit Kumar Panja

doi:10.5772/intechopen.94024

Abstract

Our main focus is to report the tribological properties of ionic liquids (ILs). Mainly, lubricating of ILs has been reported to understand the applicability of ionic liquids (ILs) in petroleum-based lubricant industry and energy conversion process as oil additive. The influence of counter parts of ILs on tribological property has been reported for designing efficient lubricating and oil-additive property of ILs. The effect of halogenated and nonhalogenated ILs on corrosion is also reported during tribological studies at different metal surface. Further, role of ILs as oil-additive has been discussed in terms of better tribological performance. Structure modification and role of anion on better performance of tribological property have been mentioned for enhancing effectiveness of lubricant and oil-additive properties. Origin of corrosion and thin film formation on metal surface are also discussed in detailed using different types of ILs and metal surfaces.

Highlights

Lubricants are very important materials for human and society due to their applications from “mobility” in ancient era to durability in modern times and most recently in enhancement of “energy efficiency process”
From economic point of view, 1.0–1.4% of a country’s GDP may be achieved through lubrication R&D, which has provoked the relentless quest of advances in lubricants in order to increase both energy efficiency and durability [2]
ionic liquids (ILs) is used as efficient lubricant additives in oil-based lubricant to increase both energy efficiency and durability due to improved solubility property [13, 14]

Summary

Introduction

Lubricants are very important materials for human and society due to their applications from “mobility” in ancient era to durability in modern times and most recently in enhancement of “energy efficiency process”. Lowering the friction and wear are important to reduce the production of hazardous materials during energy conversion process to the mating surfaces of the engine. Due to presence of unique physical and chemical properties of ILs, strong surface adsorption, high thermal stability, and low sensitivity in rheological behavior are observed compared to conventional oil lubricants. ILs is used as efficient lubricant additives in oil-based lubricant to increase both energy efficiency and durability due to improved solubility property [13, 14]. The solid surfaces mediated thin films of ILs have shown more efficient lubricating properties compared to conventional non-polar hydrocarbon liquids due to presence of hydrophobic character, change of geometry of cation and charge characteristics of ILs. The dynamic conformation changes of cation and anion play important role to show the lower shear stress and friction than conventional non-polar molecular lubricant. Future research directions are suggested at the end of this book chapter

Tribological performance of halogenated ionic liquids

Tribological performance of halogen-free ionic liquids

Conclusion

Findings

Conflict of interest