Effect of Mesomorphism on Lubricating Efficiency of Nanomaterials under Boundary Friction

Abstract

The effect of temperature on the friction coefficient under boundary lubrication by cholesteric liquid crystal nanomaterials, as well as by their solutions in industrial oil, is studied. It is established that the minimum friction coefficient for the investigated substances is reached in the mesomorphic state. In the isotropic state, an insignificant monotonic increase in the friction coefficient with increasing temperature is observed. The friction coefficient also decreases with the increasing molecular weight of the lubricant. Under friction in solutions, an abrupt increase in the friction coefficient occurs when a certain critical temperature is reached, which could be caused by the temperature destruction of the adsorbed layer.