Abstract: The tribological properties of compounds containing hydroxyl group as lubricating additives in liquid paraffin were investigated using a Timken tester and a reciprocal friction tester. The wear debris collected on the aluminum block after the reciprocal test was studied with X ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). It was found that these compounds possess high load carrying capacities and good antiwear properties. In particular, the load carrying capacity and antiwear ability were affected by the chemical environment of the hydroxyl group in the compounds. XPS analysis suggests that the lubricating function of the compounds as additives is attributed to the formation of complex of aluminum with alcohol or phenol.