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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 First |
Development, Application and Evaluation of a Novel Mixed and Boundary Friction Model | Prof. Ian Sherrington(UK), Prof. Robert Ian Taylor(UK) 22A10 |
Ⅰ. Summary A method for estimating mixed/boundary friction in a lubricated contact has been extended to include the influence of friction modifiers in lubricants. The extended model has been used to estimate the amount of mixed/boundary friction in key engine components notably piston rings and valve trains. Software was developed to predict the oil film thickness for these components, and the Lambda ratio was calculated by assuming an appropriate surface roughness. The financial impact and CO2 emissions associated with power loss due to mixed/boundary friction has been estimated for internal combustion engines. It was found that mixed/boundary friction accounts for approximately 10-20% of the total fuel burnt in passenger car internal combustion engines. Further our work on various other systems has found that the total financial cost of mixed/boundary friction is approximately 6% of total world energy usage, or, as a “rough rule of thumb”, approximately one-third of that due to fluid film friction. Ⅱ. Main Report (including Related Publication) 22A10 Main report(HP).pdf Affiliation of Principal Investigator: University of Central Lancashire |
| Novel Ionic Liquid Lubricant Synthesis and Characterization | Prof. Ashlie Martini(USA), Prof. Michael Findlater(USA) 21B05 |
Ⅰ. Summary The use of ionic liquids as lubricants or lubricant additives has been studied extensively over the past few decades. However, the ionic liquids considered for lubricant applications thus far have been part of a limited structural class of phosphonium- or imidazolium-type compounds. Here, new pyrylium- and pyridinium-based ionic liquids bearing long alkyl chains were prepared and evaluated as friction and wear reducing additives in naphthenic greases. The physical properties of the synthetic ionic liquids and additized-naphthenic grease were measured. The tribological performance of the greases was measured using standard benchtop tests and shown, in some cases, to decrease friction compared to the base grease. The compatibility of the synthetic ionic liquids with the naphthenic greases was tentatively proposed to be a result of molecular structure and its potential influence upon miscibility and tribological performance. Ⅱ. Related Publication (Researcher doesn't agree to disclose main report.) 21B05 Related Publication (HP).pdf Affiliation of Principal Investigator: University of California Merced |
|
| 2022 Second |
Novel tetrahedral amorphous carbon compo site coatings allowing mechanochemical induced lubricity in dry conditions. | Dr. Rowena Crockett(Switzerland)
22B06 |
Ⅰ. Summary Structured surfaces were produced on aC coatings on steel. Pores were formed in the coating in low and high density. Various candidate lubricants were assessed for their ability to fill the holes with varying degrees of success. The focus was on mixed chain triglyceride (MCT) and tris(2-ethylhexyl)trimellitate (TET) as both diffused into the pores and have high enough vapor pressure to measure in ToF-SIMS (MCT: <0.001 Pa, TET: 0.000025 Pa, for comparison PAO6 is 0.9 Pa). These oils were supplied by Blaser Swiss lube AG. The friction coefficients for coatings with low density and high density of pores showed a certain sensitivity to pressure when the pores were filled with the lubricants. We postulate that the higher pressure is required to initiate a reaction between the lubricant and the coating and that this reaction leads to a surface with lower hardness. ToF-SIMS images showed a very homogeneous wear track, where the pores were no longer visible. There are a number of aspects of our hypothesis that still need to be confirmed. Ⅱ. Related Publication (Researcher doesn't agree to disclose main report.) 22B06 Related Publication (HP).pdf Affiliation of Principal Investigator: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) |
| Tribological evaluation of functionalised polymers on diamond-like carbon coatings for novel ecological and sustainable lubrication systems | Prof. Fábio Emanuel de Sousa Ferreira(Portugal), Prof. Jorge Fernando Jordão Coelho(Portugal) 22A25 |
Ⅰ. Summary This research project has made significant strides in tribology by developing advanced lubrication systems that combine polymeric additive functionalization and silicon-doped diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) coatings. These innovations aim to provide environmentally friendly solutions to reduce friction and wear, leading to energy savings and lower CO2 emissions. The project's success lies in its ability to enhance lubrication under severe conditions through a novel interaction between nitrogen-containing polymers and silicon in DLC coatings, resulting in a durable tribofilm that drastically lowers friction. While promising, future research needs to address the optimization of component concentrations, the molecular mechanisms of tribofilm formation, long-term stability, and the environmental impact of these systems. The project has been shared at international conferences and through publications, with plans for further dissemination to advance the field of tribology and lubrication sciences. Ⅱ. Related Publication (Researcher doesn't agree to disclose main report.) 22A25 Related Publication (HP).pdf Affiliation of Principal Investigator: University of Coimbra |