Novel ionic liquids for interfacial and tribological applications

• Novel ionic liquids based on methylpyridinium cations were prepared.
• Interfacial, rheological and tribological characterization of the liquids was done.
• ILs based on 2-methylpyridinium cation are promising lubricants for steel pairs.
• The position of the methyl group influences the performance of the lubricant film.

Novel ionic liquids (ILs) based on methylpyridinium cations combined with tetrafluoroborate and dicyanamide anions have been developed. These ILs were evaluated in terms of their surface tension and contact angles as well as tribological performance against steel and poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) comparing with imidazolium and phosphonium based ionic liquids. Additionally, rheological studies of different prepared ILs were also performed in order to elucidate their viscosity data and Newtonian profile. The relative positions of the alkyl chains on the methylpyridinium cation were found to have an important effect on the tribological performance of these ILs.

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