Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance has been employed to investigate electro-responsiveness of an ionic liquid as an additive in lubricant oils on a gold surface. Polarisation of the surface reveals changes in frequency where an increase in magnitude amplified the observed response, corresponding to a controllable alternation of the ionic liquid configuration on the surface as a function of applied potential. The frequency changes are due to different packing of the anion and cation, respectively, on the surface as their mass densities and geometries are different. Relaxation of the system was reversible to the application of a potential and it was also found to be diffusion dependent, where the ratio between the ion diffusivities could be extracted from the results. Measurement of the system relaxation reveals a potential decay of that of a discharging capacitor, with an internal resistance inducing an initial potential drop due to the resistivity of the oil medium. The discharge behaviour was also proven to show high internal reproducibility validity within experiments. This newly discovered insight in responsive differences of ion packing is of importance, not only for ionic liquid additives in tribology, but for understanding and exploiting ionic liquids in an array of electrochemical applications.

Os mecanismos do desgaste e atrito que ocorrem durante o desgaste por deslizamento, bem como, a transição do regime do desgaste moderado para o desgaste severo, são influenciados pela força aplicada, rugosidade, temperatura e umidade, sendo estas variáveis frequentemente estudadas. Entretanto, a avaliação da remoção de debris durante o deslizamento e a influência do aditivo lubrificante, em regime limítrofe/quase seco (e.g. Ácido Esteárico C18H32O2) ainda são necessários maiores entendimentos sobre os mecanismos de desgaste e também a força na qual ocorre a transição do regime do desgaste moderado para o desgaste severo durante o deslizamento. Para os testes a seco, com e sem a remoção dos debris, foram realizados ensaios tribológicos convencionais com as duas durezas de disco, 435 e 530 HV30. Os resultados mostraram que a transição do regime de desgaste é influenciada pela dureza e pela remoção dos debris. A influência da dureza é observada apenas quando os ensaios convencionais são realizados, nos quais foi observado que o aumento da dureza do contra corpo estende a transição do desgaste moderado para o severo em forças maiores. A remoção dos debris aumenta a extensão da força para ocorrer a transição moderado/severo. Para os testes lubrificados, foram realizados ensaios com a dureza de disco de 530 HV, variando a concentração do ácido esteárico. Os resultados mostram que o aumento da concentração do aditivo e da força normal aplicada são varáveis determinantes para a redução do coeficiente de atrito. A ação do aditivo lubrificante é fundamental nas forças baixas, sendo que nas forças elevadas apenas o aumento da força normal é suficiente para manter o baixo coeficiente de atrito. Adicionalmente, para as elevadas forças aplicadas, o filme lubrificante falha em função do tempo de deslizamento, e maiores concentrações de aditivo são necessárias para manter o coeficiente de atrito constante. / The wear and friction mechanisms that occur during the sliding wear, as well as the transition from mild to severe wear regimes are influenced by the normal load applied, roughness, temperature and humidity, the variables more frequently studied. However, the assessment of debris removal during the sliding wear and oil influence with lubricant additive (e.g. Stearic Acid C18H32O2) in the boundary/dry lubrication needs further understanding of the mechanisms and the load that occur a wear transition from mild to severe wear. The aim in this work is the characterization and evaluation the contact surface without debris in sliding surface (cleaning of the wear track) and the wear surface in boundary lubrication tests. The materials studied are: the pin AISI 4140 - 435 HV30 steel and the disc AISI H13 - 435 e 530 HV30 steel. Firstly were made conventional tribological tests with two disc hardness. Then, tests with the cleaning of the wear track were made. The results showed that the hardness and the absence of debris influence in the wear transition regime. The hardness influence is observed only when the conventional tests were made. When the counter body hardness increased, the transition from mild to severe wear extends to greater loads. The debris influence was evidenced in tests with the cleaning of the wear track, and showed that greater loads are needed from mild to severe wear transition. For the lubricated tests, the hardness of the disk was 530 HV. The results shown that the concentration of the lubricant additive and the normal load applied are determinant variables to decreasing the friction coefficient. The lubricant additive action is critical in low loads, and in high loads only the increasing of the load is needed to maintain the low friction. In addition, in the high load applied, the failure of the lubricant film occurs with the increase of the sliding time, and higher additive concentrations are needed to maintain constant the friction coefficient.

Os mecanismos do desgaste e atrito que ocorrem durante o desgaste por deslizamento, bem como, a transição do regime do desgaste moderado para o desgaste severo, são influenciados pela força aplicada, rugosidade, temperatura e umidade, sendo estas variáveis frequentemente estudadas. Entretanto, a avaliação da remoção de debris durante o deslizamento e a influência do aditivo lubrificante, em regime limítrofe/quase seco (e.g. Ácido Esteárico C18H32O2) ainda são necessários maiores entendimentos sobre os mecanismos de desgaste e também a força na qual ocorre a transição do regime do desgaste moderado para o desgaste severo durante o deslizamento. Para os testes a seco, com e sem a remoção dos debris, foram realizados ensaios tribológicos convencionais com as duas durezas de disco, 435 e 530 HV30. Os resultados mostraram que a transição do regime de desgaste é influenciada pela dureza e pela remoção dos debris. A influência da dureza é observada apenas quando os ensaios convencionais são realizados, nos quais foi observado que o aumento da dureza do contra corpo estende a transição do desgaste moderado para o severo em forças maiores. A remoção dos debris aumenta a extensão da força para ocorrer a transição moderado/severo. Para os testes lubrificados, foram realizados ensaios com a dureza de disco de 530 HV, variando a concentração do ácido esteárico. Os resultados mostram que o aumento da concentração do aditivo e da força normal aplicada são varáveis determinantes para a redução do coeficiente de atrito. A ação do aditivo lubrificante é fundamental nas forças baixas, sendo que nas forças elevadas apenas o aumento da força normal é suficiente para manter o baixo coeficiente de atrito. Adicionalmente, para as elevadas forças aplicadas, o filme lubrificante falha em função do tempo de deslizamento, e maiores concentrações de aditivo são necessárias para manter o coeficiente de atrito constante. / The wear and friction mechanisms that occur during the sliding wear, as well as the transition from mild to severe wear regimes are influenced by the normal load applied, roughness, temperature and humidity, the variables more frequently studied. However, the assessment of debris removal during the sliding wear and oil influence with lubricant additive (e.g. Stearic Acid C18H32O2) in the boundary/dry lubrication needs further understanding of the mechanisms and the load that occur a wear transition from mild to severe wear. The aim in this work is the characterization and evaluation the contact surface without debris in sliding surface (cleaning of the wear track) and the wear surface in boundary lubrication tests. The materials studied are: the pin AISI 4140 - 435 HV30 steel and the disc AISI H13 - 435 e 530 HV30 steel. Firstly were made conventional tribological tests with two disc hardness. Then, tests with the cleaning of the wear track were made. The results showed that the hardness and the absence of debris influence in the wear transition regime. The hardness influence is observed only when the conventional tests were made. When the counter body hardness increased, the transition from mild to severe wear extends to greater loads. The debris influence was evidenced in tests with the cleaning of the wear track, and showed that greater loads are needed from mild to severe wear transition. For the lubricated tests, the hardness of the disk was 530 HV. The results shown that the concentration of the lubricant additive and the normal load applied are determinant variables to decreasing the friction coefficient. The lubricant additive action is critical in low loads, and in high loads only the increasing of the load is needed to maintain the low friction. In addition, in the high load applied, the failure of the lubricant film occurs with the increase of the sliding time, and higher additive concentrations are needed to maintain constant the friction coefficient.