Experimental and density functional theory study of the tribochemical wear behavior of SiO2 in humid and alcohol vapor environments

Anna L. Barnette, David B. Asay, Don Kim, Benjamin D. Guyer, Hanim Lim, Michael J. Janik, Seong H. Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper investigates the reaction steps involved in tribochemical wear of SiO2 surfaces in humid ambient conditions and the mechanism of wear prevention due to alcohol adsorption. The friction and wear behaviors of SiO2 were tested in three distinct gaseous environments at room temperature: dry argon, argon with 50% relative humidity (RH), and argon with n-pentanol vapor pressure 50% relative to the saturation pressure (P/P sat Adsorbed gas molecules have significant chemical influences on the wear of the surface. The SiO2 surface wears more readily in humid ambient compared to the dry case; however, it does not show any measurable wear in 50% P/PSat n-pentanol vapor at the same nominal contact load tested in the dry and humid environments. The tribochemical wear of the SiO 2 surface can be considered the Si-O-Si bond cleavage upon reactions with the impinging vapor molecules under tribological stress. DFT calculations were used to estimate the apparent activation energy needed to cleave the Si-O-Si bond at β-cristobalite (111) and α-quartz (001) surfaces by reactions with impinging water and alcohol vapor molecules. The alkoxide termination of the SiO2 surfaces increases the energy barrier required to cleave the Si-O-Si bonds when compared to hydroxyl-terminated SiO2 surfaces.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13052-13061
Number of pages10
JournalLangmuir
Volume25
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 17 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Spectroscopy
  • Electrochemistry

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