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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/I008519/1
Title REAL TIME AND IN-SITU HOLISTIC STUDY OF ENGINE TRIBOFILM FORMATION KINETICS
Status Completed
Energy Categories Energy Efficiency(Transport) 25%;
Not Energy Related 75%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr A Morina
No email address given
Mechanical Engineering
University of Leeds
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 February 2011
End Date 29 February 2012
Duration 13 months
Total Grant Value £100,792
Industrial Sectors Manufacturing; Transport Systems and Vehicles
Region Yorkshire & Humberside
Programme NC : Engineering
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr A Morina , Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds (100.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract The current level of understanding of boundary/mixed lubricated tribological systems offers little predictive ability. Therefore, a detailed understanding of interface phenomena, especially of tribofilms' formation and removal kinetics, and their effect on friction and wear will significantly improve the process of designing new lubricants and coatings for ensuring increased fuel economy and high durability in internal combustion engines. Having the ability to characterise the tribofilm chemical composition in-contact will inevitably facilitate the studies on tribofilm formation and removal kinetics, far beyond what can be achieved currently.The proposed research project will use the X-ray absorption technique based on the latest development of the synchrotron source and the well established RAMAN spectroscopy to develop methodologies for in-situ and real time lubricated surface chemical characterisation in non-vacuum conditions. The equipment developed will be used for tribochemistry study in an engine relevant tribology system (cam/follower).While the friction of lubricated surfaces of the elastohydrodynamic interface is relatively well understood, the understanding of energy dissipation within the boundary layer regime, or at the solid-solid interface is less well understood. The project will be focused primarily in methodology and technique development for in-contact (within the rubbing contact), in-situ (within the tribotest) and in-lubro (uncleaned samples removed from the tribotest) analysis of tribochemistry processes which will be then applied to study the interface phenomena occurring in the Diamond like Carbon (DLC) coated cam/follower system when lubricated with organic friction modifier containing engine oils. The two main deliverables from this work are the development of protocols for tribology tests with in-contact and in-situ surface analysis and development of protocols for high resolution chemical in-lubro surface analysis using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. This work will enable development of a new approach for studying the tribochemistry processes occurring in sliding and rolling/sliding IC engine tribology contacts
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 03/11/10