Environmental atmosphere effect on lubrication performance of gallium-based liquid metal

摘要

The friction and wear properties of Gallium-based liquid metal (GBLM)-lubricated bearing steel friction pairs were investigated with a rotating ball-on-disk contact test under nitrogen, air, and oxygen atmospheres. The coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate of steel lubricated with GBLM were lower in aerobic environments than those in anaerobic environments. In air, the wear rates and COFs increased with higher humidities, and COFs decreased in the initial few minutes as the rotation speed increased. GBLM gradually changed from liquid to paste in aerobic environments due to the formation of oxidized GBLM, which strongly adhered to the metal surfaces. These results revealed the importance of working environments to the lubrication with GBLM.