Additive‐additive and additive‐surface interactions in lubrication

Combinations of additives are often found to exhibit antagonistic or synergistic effects compared to the performance of the individual additives. This paper reviews the state of knowledge concerning such effects. Direct interactions, where two additives combine at a molecular level, are distinguished from complementary or exclusary effects where the individual contributions of separate additives enhance or reduce overall performance but with no direct interaction. Additive interactions take place in solution and at surfaces, and both are discussed.