Fabrication and Tribological Performance of Self-assembled Films of Stearic Acid on the Surface of Zinc Phosphate

The hydrophobic films on zinc substrate are fabricated by firstly formation of zinc phosphate thin films on zinc substrate through one-step hydrothermal method, and subsequently treated by self-assembled film of stearic acid. The morphology, components structure and tribological performance of the as-prepared samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and an UMT-3 tribo-tester, and the mechanism of stearic acid treatment was researched by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The treated surfaces provide effective friction-reducing and wear protection for the zinc substrate, due to the combined beneficial effects of nanotexturing of zinc phosphate film by hydrothermal treatment and nanolubrication of self-assembled stearic acid overcoat.