Physicochemical and Tribological Properties of Aqueous Solutions of Hydrolysate and Hydrolysate With Surfactants as Potential Lubricant Bases

Abstract

The study aimed to confirm the hypothesis that aqueous solutions of polymers with surfactants meet the criteria of ecological lubricant bases. An oat hydrolysate was used as the macromolecular substance, and the surfactants were successively: sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES), Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (SLS). The research was carried out for two-component solutions (water, hydrolysate) and three-component solutions (water, hydrolysate, surfactant). In order to document this thesis, tribological tests were performed with a constant and increasing load as a function of time. Stationary tests with loads of 2, 3, and 4 kN confirmed the predictions that active substances in two- and three-component solutions create a lubricating film that transfers high loads with relatively low motion and wear resistance. The stability and durability of the lubricating film were confirmed under the conditions of increasing load at a speed of 409 N/s. An approximately 12-fold increase in the seizing load for the hydrolysate solutions in relation to water was found, and the maximum load value for the T02 tester (7200 N) was achieved. The durability of the lubricating film was mainly determined by the adsorption of the hydrolysate, which was confirmed by physicochemical tests.