The Role of Lubricants in Engine

Zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDPs) function mainly as antioxidants and antiwear additives. Molecules of ZDDPs adsorb on metal surface to participate in surface tribofilm formation under conditions of boundary lubrication. The solid tribofilms are formed at the metal surface to protect even under conditions of coarse contact under load (Bom et al., 1992). 

Examples of such surfactants are detergents which include calcium and magnesium sulfonates (RSOO)2M2+, phenates (RC6H40)2M2+, carboxylates (RCOO )2M2+, phosphonates RPO/M2 and carbonate-sulfonate hard-core reverse micelles (RMs). Ashless dispersants are the most widely used types, such as the substituted polyisobutylene amine succinimides (mono-substituted, m-PIBS and bis-substituted, b-PIBS), succinate esters, Mannich bases, and phosphorus types, see Chapter 2.2 for formulas (Inoue and Watanabe, 1983 Papke and Rubin, 1992 Vipper and Watanabe, 1981). 

The mechanism of action of surfactant additives. The operation of internal combustion (IC) engines results in the formation of by-products gases, soot particles, acids, water and free radical sources. 

A portion of these by-products enters the crankcase via blow-by gases and adsorption in the thin lubricant film. It seems that these mechanisms are partly 

Solubilization of insoluble oxidation products and soot particles. Reverse micelles (RMs) formations manage the prevention of agglomeration and the contamination process of insoluble oxidation particles and soot particles by both steric stabilization (Fig.2.1) and electrostatic stabilization mechanisms (Fig.2.2). The steric stabilization mechanism provides a physical barrier to agglomeration of particles by adsorption on particle surfaces. Adsorbed dispersant acts as a physical barrier to attraction between particles. 

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