Investigation of tribochemical behavior of Al–Si alloy against itself lubricated by amines

The friction and wear properties of Al–Si alloy against Al–Si alloy was investigated using an Optimol SRV Tester with the lubrication of pure ethyleneglycol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine and triethylenetetramine. The tribo-chemical reactions and the compositions of the boundary film formed on the rubbed surface of Al–Si alloy were examined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS). The wear debris of Al–Si with the lubrication of triethylenetetramine was collected and evaluated with FT-IR, and thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis. Friction and wear tests reveal that triethylenetetramine shows the best antiwear capabilities among the tested compounds. The results of FT-IR, TG and XPS indicate the occurrence of tribo-chemical reactions between Al and amine with the formation of a chemically stable complex of aluminum and amine, as well as the formation of friction polymer