This article presents the results of experimental investigation of tribological properties of commercial mineral motor oil with chiral nematic (also known as twisted nematic or cholesteric) liquid crystal additives. Cholesteryl stearate and valerate (fatty acid cholesterol esters) liquid crystals were used as oil additives in investigation. Tribological experiments were performed using a block-on-disc-type tribo-test machine at constant experiment time and sliding velocity conditions. The load (contact pressure), concentration of liquid crystalline additive in oil and Rz roughness of steel–steel friction surfaces were taken as variable parameters. The mean coefficient of friction of steel–steel friction pair lubricated by oil with and without liquid crystal additives and near-contact temperature were taken as dependent variables. Regression equations were then derived for each lubricant and tribological efficiency of liquid crystals as oil additives was evaluated. It was established that coefficient of friction of steel–steel friction pair and near-contact temperature are reduced to about a half in the presence of liquid crystal additives. Results of tribological experiments show that tribological efficiency of liquid crystals as oil additives increases with increase in their molecular mass.

本文介绍了使用手性向列型（也称为扭曲向列型或胆甾型）液晶添加剂的工业矿物机油的摩擦学性能的实验研究结果。硬脂酸胆固醇和戊酸（脂肪酸胆固醇酯）液晶被用作油添加剂。摩擦学实验是在恒定的实验时间和滑动速度条件下使用圆盘式摩擦试验机进行的。负载（接触压力），油和Rz中液晶添加剂的浓度钢-钢摩擦表面的粗糙度被视为可变参数。因油而有或没有液晶添加剂的情况下钢与钢的摩擦副的平均摩擦系数和近接触温度被视为因变量。然后推导每种润滑剂的回归方程，并评估液晶作为油添加剂的摩擦学效率。已经确定，在存在液晶添加剂的情况下，钢与钢之间的摩擦系数和近接触温度可降低到一半左右。摩擦学实验的结果表明，液晶作为油添加剂的摩擦效率随其分子量的增加而增加。