Corrosion and wear of four-ball pair in Lop Nur brine-contaminated barge gear oil

Purpose This study aims to investigate the corrosion and wear of the four-ball pair in gear oil contaminated by Lop Nur brine at varying concentrations (0–30,000 ppm). Design/methodology/approach Steel sheet corrosion tests and four-ball friction tests were conducted, with surface morphology and elemental composition analyses using SEM and EDS to elucidate the evolution of wear mechanisms. Findings The results reveal a nonlinear concentration-dependent response: at 100–500 ppm, brine exerts a mild lubricating effect, reducing friction; at 1,000–3,000 ppm, severe synergistic corrosion and deep adhesive wear occur, leading to the most severe damage; at 5,000–30,000 ppm, dominant three-body abrasion from loose, stratified corrosion products prevails, yet the overall operational risk is lower than at intermediate concentrations. Originality/value These findings offer practical insights for optimizing lubrication management of equipment operating in high-brine environments.