Friction behavior of ferritic stainless steel in a strongly diluted alcohol solution of alkylphosphonic acid

The present study investigates the potential for using this more environmentally friendly lubrication at an industrial scale forming of stainless steel. Against this background we analyze the characteristics of the tribofilm formed on a stainless steel surface during sliding experiments performed in solutions containing alkylphosphonic acids, under various contact conditions. Specific tribological tests were designed to analyze the dynamics of the lubricating mechanism. It was found that both the grafting of molecules and the transformation of these into an efficient tribofihn are quick processes, irrespective of substrate roughness or contact pressure, systematically leading to low friction coefficient.