Mechanochemistry mechanism of lubrication recovery and wear maps of base oil

Lubrication recovery has been observed in tribology research. This refers to the recovery of oil lubrication on a metal after failure or semi-failure by waiting for a period. Past studies attributed this recovery to metal oxidation. However, this article presented an alternative mechanism. We proposed that the accumulation of carbon-containing tribofilms from hydrocarbon oils was crucial for lubrication recovery. Changes in surface states, such as increased contact areas, also play a significant role. For studying wear mechanism maps, it is essential to consider both working conditions and surface states. Two new wear mechanism maps based on initial surfaces with or without pregenerated tribofilm were developed. These findings highlight the mechanochemical effects of base oils on lubrication and anti-wear performance.