Study on Frictional Properties of Fine Powder Materials

The operating parameters of present-day engines depend on many factors, including the lubrication system. The lubrication system not only reduces friction between the surfaces of moving parts, but also contributes to their cooling and cleans engine parts from carbon deposits and impurities. High environmental requirements are also imposed on the quality of the lubricants, while maintaining their specifications. To that end, various additives are added to lubricating oil. The paper studies the effect of fine powders (enamels) on the wear of friction pairs in laboratory tests. The tests are mainly carried out for all-season synthetic and mineral oils in demand. Such criteria as wear of a roller and upper and lower bearings, specific wear of friction pairs, moment load, and temperature are selected as the effectiveness evaluation criteria of the use of enamels and nanomaterials. Experimental studies show a high efficiency of using enamels as additives to reduce friction and increase the load-carrying capacity of oils. The temperature in the friction layer is reduced by 10-20%, depending on the enamel concentration in the oil. The enamel acts as a third body with a lower friction coefficient and energy to failure, which increases the actual contact area of the friction pairs. The results of the study can be applied in the development of motor oils with fine enamel as an additive.