Investigation on the tribological performance of protic ionic liquid as an additive in PEG200 for steel–steel contact

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) offer multifunctional capabilities as lubricant additives. However, many conventional ILs contain moisture-sensitive halogen-based anions that may hydrolyze to form corrosive halogen acids, leading to surface degradation. This study explored halogen-free, amine-based protic ionic liquids (PILs) as additives in polar base oil polyethylene glycol (PEG200). Anti-corrosion tests revealed that incorporating PILs into PEG200 significantly improves corrosion resistance. Lubrication tests performed at various PIL concentrations showed that the blend containing 5wt% PIL exhibited the best performance, reducing the friction coefficient by 26.12% and wear volume by 90.61% compared to neat PEG200. Spectroscopic analysis confirms the formation of a protective tribofilm within the wear tracks, consisting of oxy-organic compounds and metal oxides such as FeOOH, Fe<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>and Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf>. This tribofilm minimizes direct contact between sliding surfaces and facilitates effective lubrication. These findings demonstrate the potential of amine-based PILs as efficient and environmentally friendly additives for PEG-based lubricants. © IMechE 2025