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Abstract

Using optical interferometry in a standard ball-and-disc apparatus and a high-speed video camera with light enhancer, thickener particles entering a grease-lubricated elastohydrodynamic (EHD) contact were traced as they passed through the contact in pure rolling. In previous studies, it has not been possible to track specific particles but, due to the short exposure time and high recording rates used here, sharp images of a passing particle could be captured. Two greases, based on the same synthetic poly(α-olefin) but thickened with Li-12-OH and lithium complex respectively were studied and for a freshly lubricated track it could be documented that the lithium complex thickener causes fewer, but larger, particles to pass the contact. The influence of the base oil bleeding on film formation is also discussed in the paper.

Keywords

elastohydrodynamics (EHD)elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL)grease lubrication interferometry bearing

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Grease passing through an elastohydrodynamic contact under pure rolling conditions

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