Due to the increasing demand of low emission and fuel economy, friction modifiers have been widely used in lubricating compositions to adjust friction and wear properties of lubricants. Recent achievements in the application of friction modifiers for liquid lubricants (2007–present) are reviewed in this paper. There are three types of friction modifiers for liquid lubricants: organomolybdenum compounds, organic friction modifiers, as well as nanoparticles. The tribological properties and lubrication mechanisms of these friction modifiers are discussed. The problems and some suggestions for the future directions of research on friction modifiers are proposed.

A review of recent developments of friction modifiers for liquid lubricants (2007–present)

Modern engine lubricant specifications include compositional constraints in terms of the permitted level of sulphated ash, phosphorus and sulphur (SAPS). This necessitates a reduction in the concentration of the additive zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) used in engine oils, and there is currently great interest in identifying anti-wear additives that contain low or zero SAPS to partially or wholly replace ZDDP.

This paper reviews the main chemical classes that are reported in the literature as potential low- or zero-SAPS anti-wear agents. There are many such possible additives, although none appears to be quite as versatile as ZDDP. Instead, combinations of anti-wear and extreme pressure additives are likely to be employed in the future. The literature reveals a strong imbalance in the amount and depth of research carried out on the various additive types, with a great deal of research on a few classes of additives and very little recent work on most others. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Low- and zero-sulphated ash, phosphorus and sulphur anti-wear additives for engine oils

Boron compounds are widely used in a range of tribological applications such as friction modifiers, antioxidants, antiwear additives, and in many cases as environmentally friendly lubricants. The chemical nature and structure of boron compounds provide multifunctionality. They are used as (1) solid lubricants such as boric acid and hexagonal boron nitride, (2) liquid lubricants such as ionic liquids, (3) lubricant additives such as borate derivatives of various organic and inorganic compounds, and (4) coatings such as cubic boron nitride and different metal borides. Boron is also one of the most favorable elements for coatings and thin films in biotribological and biomedical applications. This review outlines the growing role of boron in lubrication over the past several decades, summarizes the main findings, and identifies future challenges related to boron chemistry.

Chunyang Zhang

Papers

A study of S-[2-(acetamido) benzothiazol-1-yl]N,N-dibutyl dithiocarbamate as an oil additive in liquid paraffin