Lubrication of TiN, CrN and DLC PVD Coatings with 1-Butyl-1-Methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate

This article studies 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ionic liquid ([BMP][FAP]) as neat lubricant and 1 wt% additive to a polyalphaolefin (PAO 6) in the lubrication of TiN, CrN and diamond-like carbon (DLC) PVD coatings. Friction and wear tests were made using a ball-on-plate reciprocating tribometer under high-pressure conditions. Experiment results showed a slight friction reduction with the use of the [BMP][FAP] ionic liquid as oil additive compared with test made with neat PAO 6. [BMP][FAP] as neat lubricant provoked the lowest friction coefficients and an important wear reduction. Interactions of the ionic liquid with the surface and tribofilms formation contributed to the increase in the load-carrying capacity.