Friction-Induced Amorphization with ZDDP—An EXAFS Study

Abstract

Many experimental works are concerned with the microinvestigation of interface bodies created during the wear process (especially wear particles). Previous works wing STEM have shown that ZDDP wear protection is associated with the structureless nature of wear debris, so that friction-induced amorphization was a key factor to obtain the antiwear conditions. In this paper, the synchrotron radiation, EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) is used to probe the local environment of atoms (Fe and Zn) in interface ZDDP films. Results clearly show the fully amorphous character of these materials. Consequences on wear models are then discussed.