Effect of amino and polysiloxane groups on the chemical adsorption of polymers containing thiophosphate at the oil/metal interface under extreme pressure

Copolymers that separately contained thiophosphate-polysiloxane, thiophosphate-amino, and thiophosphate-polysiloxane-amino groups were synthesized and characterized. The performances of these synthesized copolymers on metal surfaces under a high load and rotary velocity were examined by the measurement of the oil temperature, frictional coefficient, and electrical contact resistance between two metal surfaces. The configuration of the adsorption layer was studied with energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Copolymers that contained amino-thiophosphate groups reduced the frictional coefficient between two metal surfaces and markedly limit the increase in the oil temperature. Notably, a higher content of polysiloxane groups in the copolymer corresponded to an increased operating time to establish the adsorption layer on the metal surface. However, a higher content of amino groups reduced the time required for the layer to form. The adsorption layers that formed on the metal surfaces were investigated by EDS as phosphides produced by a chemical reaction of the thiophosphate-containing copolymer with the metal surface. These adsorption layers on the metal surface were directly observed with SEM. The layer that formed on the metal surface of copolymers containing less polysiloxane and more amino groups was the thickest layer for all the synthesized copolymers.