Tribopolymerization of n-butyl acrylate on the steel-steel rubbing surface

To study tribopolymerization mechanisms of BA, effects of sliding velocities and adding 1 wt% n-butyl alcohol to BA fluids on the mass of tribopolymers were investigated, respectively. Expectedly, the mass of tribopolymers dramatically enhanced with the sliding velocity increasing, showing that the tribopolymers were generated just due to friction processes. Additionally, tribopolymerization of styrene (easy to thermopolymerize) was studied. Unexpectedly-but not unreasonably-no substantial worn products were precipitated from vacuum-condensed worn fluids. Based on these experimental results, an exoelectron-radical-tribopolymerization mode, consistent with some Kajdas' tribochemistry theories, for BA was proposed.