Abstract
Real-time external alteration of the internal properties of lubricants is highly desirable in all mechanical systems. However, fabricating a suitable and effective smart lubricant is a long-lasting experimental process. In this study, the film thickness and frictional response of ionic liquid-lubricated non-conformal contacts to an electric field excitation under elastohydrodynamic conditions were examined. Film thickness was evaluated using a “ball-on-disc” optical tribometer with an electric circuit. Friction tests were carried on a mini traction machine (MTM) tribometer with a “ball-on-disc” rotation module and an electric circuit for contact area excitation. The results demonstrate that there is a difference in the behaviour of the ionic liquid during electric field excitation at the evaluated film thicknesses. The results of evaluated film thicknesses demonstrate that there is a difference in the behaviour of the ionic liquid during electric field excitation. Therefore, the ionic liquids could be a new basis for the smart lubrication of mechanical components. Moreover, the proposed experimental approach can be used to identify electrosensitive fluids.
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Acknowledgements
This research was carried out under the CEITEC 2020 project (LQ1601) with financial support from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under the National Sustainability Programme II and the project FSI-S-17-4415 with financial support from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic. Aleksandar VENCL acknowledges the projects TR 34028 and TR 35021, financially supported by the Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development.
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Michal MICHALEC. He received his M.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, in 2019. His current position is a junior researcher and a member of Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Section at Tribology Group, Institute of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. His research areas cover the boundary, mixed, and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, rheology of ionic liquids, friction, and wear.
Petr SVOBODA. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, in 2005 and 2009, respectively. His current position is an associate professor and a member of Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Section at Tribology Group, Institute of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. His research areas cover the boundary, mixed, and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, starvation, surface texturing effect, and lubricant rheology.
Ivan KRUPKA. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, in 1990 and 1997, respectively. His current position is a professor and head of Tribology Group, Institute of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. His research areas cover the mixed and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, surface texturing effect, and lubricant rheology.
Martin HARTL. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic, in 1990 and 1997, respectively. His current position is a professor and head of Institute of Machine and Industrial Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. His research areas cover the boundary, mixed, and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, roughness effect, and biotribology.
Aleksandar VENCL. He received his M.S. degree in engineering materials in 2002 and Ph.D. degree in tribology in 2008 from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at University of Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. His current position is a full professor and head of Tribology Laboratory at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade. His main research fields are friction and wear characteristics of materials (metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites), surface modifications and coatings, lubricants (application, recycling, and monitoring), nanotribology, and failure diagnostic of tribological systems.
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Michalec, M., Svoboda, P., Krupka, I. et al. Investigation of the tribological performance of ionic liquids in non-conformal EHL contacts under electric field activation. Friction 8, 982–994 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-019-0342-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-019-0342-y