Awarded Research Themes and Reports
Note: "Affiliation" in the table is based on the day of grant.
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| Grant Year | Research Theme | Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator (Country) |
Research Content Summary / Related Publication / Main Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 First |
Understanding the effect of water on the tribological performance of ionic liquid (IL) lubricants | Assoc. Prof. Lei Li (USA) 16A09 |
Ⅰ. Summary Ionic liquids show promise as lubricants for nano- and micro-electromechanical systems (NEMS/MEMS). When deposited on solid substrates as thin films, these liquids can exhibit solid-like layering structure, which makes them ideal as nano-lubricants. In this work, we have investigated the friction of various nanometer-thick ionic liquids. While many previous studies showed the impact of cation, we found a dramatic difference in the friction coefficients for 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluorome thylsulfonyl)imide and 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl) trifluoro phosphate, suggesting that anion structure also bears a significant effect on the friction. The effect of water at the interface has also been investigated and the friction profiles of the ionic liquids proved resistant to moisture manipulations. Film thickness, uniformity and adhesion to the substrate were also studied to relate molecular structure and surface morphology to tribology performance. The results provide valuable guidance in designing ILs as potential nanoscale lubricants. Ⅱ. Related Publication (Researcher doesn't agree to disclose main report.) 16A09 Related Publication (HP).pdf Affiliation of Principal Investigator: University of Pittsburgh |
| Molecular design of ionic liquids for advanced lubricating fluids | Prof. Ichiro Minami (Sweden) Dr. Erik Nyberg(Sweden) 15B07 |
Ⅰ. Summary The tribological properties of novel room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), composed of tetraalkylphosphonium silaalkylsulfonate (P-SiSO), were evaluated under boundary conditions. The feature of P-SiSO is hydrocarbon-mimicking properties due to rich in alkyl groups both in anionic and cationic moieties. P-SiSOs provided excellent wear prevention and friction reducing properties up to high contact stress, compared to conventional RTILs such as dialkylimidazolium salts. Chemical analysis of worn surface revealed that the boundary film composed of silicate from the anionic moiety. Phosphates was minor component in boundary film under steady state, while the contents raised after breakdown of the silicate boundary film. It was found that aromatic amine antioxidants enhanced formation of boundary film from the anionic moiety in P-SiSO. Adsorption of the cationic moiety on the boundary film from the anionic moiety was proposed for outstanding lubrication performances. In this way, both anionic and cationic moieties play significant roles on the tribological properties. Ⅱ. Related Publication (Researcher doesn't agree to disclose main report.) 15B07 Related Publication (HP).pdf Affiliation of Principal Investigator: Luleå University of Technology |
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| 2016 Second |
Advanced Laser Surface Texturing for Improving Engine Efficiency | Dr. Sorin-Cristian Vladescu(UK), Dr. Thomas Reddyhoff(UK) 16B04 |
Ⅰ. Summary This project allowed us to gain a deeper understanding on the mechanisms through which laser surface texture reduces sliding friction, leading to real-life benefits in IC engine design. Visualisation of the mechanisms with which textured patterns control friction were achieved for the first time, employing to a newly developed fluorescence technique partly developed using the equipment funding provided by Taiho Kogyo Tribology Research Foundation. Firstly, a lubricant transport mechanism was put forward, results showing that laser produced pockets can be used to control to reduced oil consumption inside internal combustion engines, acting to spread the oil along the entire stroke, thus reducing the burning of lubricant at TDC during the power stoke. Secondly, tests were performed to determine a set of criteria for the optimum pocket geometry; results showed that at low speed when the contact is operating under boundary lubrication, pockets should be deep, wide, and densely spaced. Conversely, under mixed lubrication toward the transition to the full film regime, pockets should be narrow and sparsely spaced. Ⅱ. Main Report (including Related Publication) 16B04 Main Report (HP).pdf Affiliation of Principal Investigator: Imperial College London |
| Measurement of the Real Area of Contact using Coating Technique and SEM | Mr. Yang Xu, Mr. Yan Chen, Prof. Robert L. Jackson, Prof. Bart Proprok (all above USA) 16B07 |
Ⅰ. Summary In this study, a new experimental method is proposed to measure the real area of contact between a ceramic sphere and an Al surface based on the adhesive transfer of the Au film and the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in the back-scattered (BS) and second electron (SE) mode. A thin film of Au is sputtered on the ceramic sphere before the indentation with the Al surface. The entire contact regions on the ceramic sphere and the Al surface are captured in the second electron and back-scattered images with a magnification of ×220. The back-scattered images with the magnifications of ×5,000 and ×10,000 (resolution: 20 nm and 4 nm) are captured at four different locations along the radial direction (starting from the contact center), respectively. The real area of contact decreases from the center to the contact edge. Ⅱ. Main Report (including Related Publication) 16B07 Main Report (HP).pdf Affiliation of Principal Investigator: Auburn University |