Effect of Fatty-Acid Composition and Structure of Alkyl Radicals of Plant Oil Triglycerides on Their Tribotechnical Characteristics

Abstract

Sunflower, corn, rapeseed, olive, and linseed oils have been tested on a four-ball friction machine. The fatty-acid composition of oils has been determined. It has been shown that the similarity of their antiwear characteristics and the holding range of surface-active substances is related to the equivalence of the chain lengths of alkyl radicals. It has been determined that the activation of unsaturated bonds as a result of the oxidation and thermomechanical exposure upon friction has a positive influence on the friction interaction due to tribopolymerization and film formation on the abrasive surfaces. It has been stated that, with change in the average chain length of alkyl radicals and the number of unsaturated bonds by the addition of corresponding triglycerides, one can control the tribotechnical characteristics of plant oils.