SURFACE CHEMISTRY OF SOME LUBRICANT ADDITIVES,

Eleven compounds or combinations of compounds were studied in this investigation. They were added to white mineral oil and evaluated for their effect upon the lubricative properties of the oil. Results were a positive but varied improvement for all additives. Six were tritiated and their absorption on bearing steel specimens studies by radioactive counting. An increase in temperature and humidity resulted in variable increases in absorption. It was observed that on static storage some additives apparently settled in the lubricant without forming a precipitate. Others formed a visible precipitate. In either case, their effect upon the lubrican was appreciably diminished. Degreasing with trichloroethylene seemed to eliminate the lubricative ability of the additive but radioactive counting disclosed some still to be present on the degreased test specimen. Author