Abstract The performance of surface-active additives, such as friction modifiers, depends on their interactions with surfaces. Their effectiveness thus hinges upon the surface conditions. In this work, the effect of cleaning methods of test substrates on the friction reduction capabilities of different organic friction modifier (OFM) additives was investigated. 52100 steel discs and balls were the test specimens. They were cleaned in five different ways. The cleaned surfaces were characterized by using ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. The tribological performance of stearic acid (STA), octadecylamine (ODA), and octadecanol (ODO), on these surfaces was then tested. As-received steel surfaces were covered with contaminants that may impede the formation of an OFM surface layer. Cleaning these surfaces with solvents cannot completely remove these contaminants. Cleaning with oxygen or argon plasma results in cleaner surfaces compared to those cleaned by solvents only. The impact of the choice of cleaning method on friction depends on the strength of the interaction between the OFM and the steel surface, which determines the ability of an OFM to displace surface contaminations. Cleaner surfaces result in lower initial friction for STA and ODA. Steady-state friction is also affected but to a lesser extent. This may be because most contaminants that remained in the wear track were mechanically removed during rubbing.

中文翻译：

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表面清洁对有机摩擦改性剂性能的影响

摘要 表面活性添加剂（如摩擦改进剂）的性能取决于它们与表面的相互作用。因此，它们的有效性取决于表面条件。在这项工作中，研究了测试基材的清洁方法对不同有机摩擦改进剂 (OFM) 添加剂的减摩能力的影响。52100个钢盘和钢球为试验样品。它们以五种不同的方式清洁。通过使用椭圆光度法和原子力显微镜来表征清洁的表面。然后测试了硬脂酸 (STA)、十八胺 (ODA) 和十八醇 (ODO) 在这些表面上的摩擦学性能。原样的钢表面被污染物覆盖，这些污染物可能会阻碍 OFM 表面层的形成。用溶剂清洁这些表面不能完全去除这些污染物。与仅使用溶剂清洁的表面相比，使用氧气或氩等离子清洁可产生更清洁的表面。清洁方法的选择对摩擦的影响取决于 OFM 与钢表面之间相互作用的强度，这决定了 OFM 置换表面污染物的能力。更清洁的表面会降低 STA 和 ODA 的初始摩擦。稳态摩擦也会受到影响，但影响程度较小。这可能是因为留在磨损轨道中的大多数污染物在摩擦过程中被机械去除。清洁方法的选择对摩擦的影响取决于 OFM 与钢表面之间相互作用的强度，这决定了 OFM 置换表面污染物的能力。更清洁的表面会降低 STA 和 ODA 的初始摩擦。稳态摩擦也会受到影响，但影响程度较小。这可能是因为留在磨损轨道中的大多数污染物在摩擦过程中被机械去除。清洁方法的选择对摩擦的影响取决于 OFM 与钢表面之间相互作用的强度，这决定了 OFM 置换表面污染物的能力。更清洁的表面会降低 STA 和 ODA 的初始摩擦。稳态摩擦也会受到影响，但影响程度较小。这可能是因为留在磨损轨道中的大多数污染物在摩擦过程中被机械去除。