Friction modifier additives alter the friction between two materials. If we are to compare a typical friction material with oil, the oil will always remain parallel. This can be done by applying a lubricant like oil onto the surface of the metal or into a bore hole and it will remain parallel. The friction between the two will still remain constant. However, the amount of friction will vary depending on the material being used.
Organic friction modifier additives are surfactant molecules added to engine oils to reduce friction in the boundary lubrication regime. The friction between two metals can also be affected by the material being used. Some metals are much more slippery than others. For instance, the titanium and platinum friction between two smooth rolled edges is much less than that between a polished alloy of the same weight. The friction modifiers provide an extra friction between the two materials. This way, they can be used in machineries that would otherwise use a different kind of lubricant. There are also other situations when they can be used.
There are some friction modifier additives that are liquid and there are some that are in solid form. These friction modifying liquids include acetone, magnesium carbonate, fluorine, and formaldehyde. A very viscous and thick fluid is fluorine. It is widely used for friction dampening and melting. Another additive that has been developed for friction dampening is polylactic acid and it's also used for lubrication purposes.
The U.S., in terms of market for friction modifier additives, is witnessing several M&A activities. For instance, in January 2021, CSW Industrials, Inc. and Pennzoil-Quaker State Company dba SOPUS products, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, signed an agreement under which Whitmore Manufacturing, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CSWI, and Shell will form a joint venture for commercialization of lubricants and other products.
No comments:
Post a Comment