Definition
The vapor phase lubrication in general refers to lubrication systems or methodologies where the active lubricant molecules are delivered to the interfaces prior to or during mechanical sliding contacts.
Scientific Fundamentals
History
In 1965, Fein and Kreuz demonstrated that in a four-ball wear tester, cyclohexane hydrocarbon vapors produced polymeric deposits in the vicinity of the wear scar and provided some protection against wear (Fein and Kreuz 1965). However, if the same test was conducted in cyclohexane liquid, the polymeric deposits were dissolved by the liquid and higher wear resulted. In the vapor lubrication case, there was no liquid solvent that could wash away the polymeric deposit produced in the contact region via tribochemical reactions. This may be the first report in the technical literature about the lubrication effect of simple hydrocarbon vapor during...
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References
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Kim, S.H. (2013). Vapor Phase Lubrication for Micro-Machines. In: Wang, Q.J., Chung, YW. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tribology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92897-5_790
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92897-5_790
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-92896-8
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-92897-5
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