Tribological Properties of Rapeseed Oil with Electromagnetic Field Impact

Tribological properties of rapeseed oil under different intensity of electromagnetic field and loads were evaluated on a modified four-ball tribo-tester. The morphologies and chemical states of several typical elements on the worn surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the influencing mechanisms were discussed. The results indicate that the electromagnetic field improved anti-wear and friction-reducing property of rapeseed oil. In the investigated conditions, the higher the intensity of electromagnetic field, the better the lubrication effect. The facilitated tribological characteristics of the rapeseed oil was ascribed to the promoted adsorption effect of adsorption film, and the enhanced interaction between elemental oxygen and the frictional interface, which made a thicker and compacter tribo-chemical films on the metal surface. It also can be inferred that intensity of electromagnetic fields changed the adsorption morphology of long chain rapeseed oil molecules at the frictional interface.