Tribological Behavior of Polymer-Based Supramolecular Gel PUMA-PSMA During Lubrication State Transitions

Experimental results showed that the gel significantly reduced the friction coefficient compared to 500SN base oil and Grease-N. At a load of 40 N and 15% SRR, the average friction coefficient for PUMA-PSMA gel was 0.062 3, significantly lower than 0.065 5 for 500SN and 0.092 for Grease-N. Furthermore, the gel exhibited stable lubrication performance across a wide range of operating conditions, maintaining its structural and functional properties even under high speed and high SRR conditions. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) confirmed that concentration, load, and SRR have a highly significant effect on friction coefficient (p<0.01).

Among these factors, load and SRR showed the most pronounced impact, especially under high load and high SRR conditions, where frictional heat generation played a key role in reducing the lubricant's viscosity and improving its flowability. This heat induced viscosity reduction facilitated the formation of stable lubricating films, further lowering friction coefficient and enhancing the gel's overall lubrication efficiency. Electrical contact resistance (ECR) tests provided additional insights into the gel's ability to form effective lubricating films.