Friction and Wear Properties of Zirconia in a Sodium Laurate Aqueous Solution

摘要

To improve the friction and wear properties of zirconia (ZrO{sub}2) in water boundary lubrication, its friction and wear was investigated in sodium laurate aqueous solution using a ball/disk friction machine. The friction tests were carried out under the conditions of various friction environments (air, water, and sodium laurate aqueous solution), various loads and sliding speeds, and various combinations of ZrO{sub}2, alumina (Al{sub}2O{sub}3), and SUJ2 steel (ball/disk). In every ball/disk system of sodium laurate aqueous solutions, much lower and more stable friction coefficient and lower specific wear amount were obtained as compared with air and water environments independent of the load-sliding speed applied in this study. Especially, the high friction coefficient and high wear of ZrO{sub}2 in water were remarkably suppressed in this aqueous solution. These good results are due to the adsorption effect of sodium laurate molecules on ZrO{sub}2 and Al{sub}2O{sub}3 frictional surfaces.