Traction and Lubricant Film Temperature as Related to the Glass Transition Temperature and Solidification

Does a traction fluid have to be a glass or solid under operating conditions? Infrared spectra on dynamic EHD contacts of several types of fluid were used to determine the surface and oil-film temperature. Polarized spectral runs were made to study molecular alignment. Static glass transition pressures at appropriate temperatures were between 0.1 and 2.0 GPa, with the traction fluid showing the highest. In the EHD contact region, the traction fluid showed both the highest film temperatures as well as the greatest degree of molecular alignment. A plot of the difference between the film and surface temperatures us shear rate resulted in a master plot valid for all the fluids. From this work, the authors propose a model of “fluid” traction, where friction between parallel rough molecules provides the traction. Presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, May 9–12, 1977