SURFACE VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY OF LUBRICANTS ADSORBED AT THE IRON-WATER INTERFACE

Citation
Dc. Duffy et al., SURFACE VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY OF LUBRICANTS ADSORBED AT THE IRON-WATER INTERFACE, Langmuir, 14(22), 1998, pp. 6518-6527
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Chemistry Physical
Journal title
ISSN journal
07437463
Volume
14
Issue
22
Year of publication
1998
Pages
6518 - 6527
Database
ISI
SICI code
0743-7463(1998)14:22<6518:SVSOLA>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
Sum-frequency spectroscopy has been used to obtain the vibrational spe ctra of two molecules, potassium oleate and sodium octanoate, adsorbed at the iron-water interface. These two molecules reduce the friction of iron-steel contacts: the surface structures inferred from the vibra tional spectra indicate how these molecules lubricate iron under aqueo us solutions. Potassium oleate causes a reduction in the friction of i ron surfaces at 10 mM; the strength and phase of the resonances in the vibrational spectra of oleate indicate that a bilayer was adsorbed at the iron surface at this concentation. Sodium octanoate reduces the f riction of iron surfaces under anodic potentials. The vibrational spec tra of adsorbed octanoate did not contain any resonances at any applie d potential: this observation suggests that a completely disordered fi lm was adsorbed at iron. The comparison between the coefficients of fr iction suggests that the more ordered films formed by oleate are more effective at lubricating than the disordered octanoate films.