Surfactant dithiophosphates lubricating oil additives

This paper presents a research on the tribological properties and the action mechanisms of surfactant lubricating oil additives, polyalkoxy glycol ammonium salts and O,O,S-triesters of polyalkoxy glycol dithiophosphoric acid. To understand the physicochemical properties of surfactants, polyalkoxy glycol dithiophosphoric acid behaviour both in solution and at metal surfaces are identified and discussed. The STM adsorption on steel surface, four-ball and ball disc tests of friction of water, synthetic and mineral oil solutions studies of these additives are presented. Friction and wear properties are dependent on tribological parameters, chemical structure of the additives and their surface active behaviour in tribological systems. The relationships are presented on the example of additives with different molecular structures and masses.