Friction and Wear of a Silica/Silicon Tribopair in the Presence of (Imidazolium-Based) Ionic Liquids: Role of Molecular Structure and Environmental Conditions

摘要

This work focuses on the main factors affecting the tribological behaviour of various classes of ionic liquids (ILs) used as lubricants for silica/silicon surfaces. Imidazolium-based salts differing in their molecular structures have been used under boundary-lubrication conditions. The role of the environment was also taken into account by comparing the results obtained in the presence of humid air and pure nitrogen. The results of pin-on-disk tribological tests showed that ILs differing in terms of their chemical structures could exhibit significantly different lubrication performance. Environmental conditions were also found to affect their lubricating performance, especially with regard to the measured wear coefficient. The tribological results are discussed on the basis of the surface-chemical composition and morphology of the mechanically stressed samples.