Abstract: Lauric acid random copolyether (LPE) aqueou solutions with different mass fraction are prepared. Friction-reducing and anti-wear performances of LPE aqueous solutions are tested on the friction and wear tester. Tribo pairs of steel/aluminum and steel/steel are selected and the influences of mass fraction, load, and specimen surface roughness are discussed. The surface morphology of samples are measured by the phase shift MicroXAM-3D and the energy dispersive spectrometer. The results show that friction-reducing capability of 0.5% LPE aqueous solutions decrease up to 65% or more, being compared to water. As the mass fraction, load and specimen surface roughness increasing, friction-reducing performances get better. The specimen wear scars are shallow and uniform. The phenomenon indicates that polarity adsorption groups in LPE aqueous solutions forming thick chemical adsorbed film and physical adsorbed film on the metal surfaces. The films have better friction-reducing and anti-wear performances by seperating friction surfaces. The polar molecule has saturated adsorption capacity, so it shows good friction-reducing and anti-wear properties at low mass fraction. It lays a foundation for the rosy prospect in industrial application.

Key words: Anti-wear, Aqueous solutions, Friction-reducing, Lauric acid random copolyether