Theory analysis of asymmetrical electric double layer effects on thin film lubrication

This paper presents a theoretical research concerning the effects of the asymmetrical electric double layers on thin film lubrication. A mathematical model of electro-viscosity considering the asymmetrical electric double layers is developed, which acts as an extensional study of the symmetrical cases. Then, the numerical analyses based on this model are performed to evaluate the influence of electric double layers on the thin water lubricating film with and without consideration of the elastic deformation of the opposing surfaces. The results show that the electric double layers lead to significant variations in the properties both of hydrodynamic and elasto-hydrodynamic lubricating film.