The Influence of Autoxidation on Wear Asymmetry with n -Hexadecane

Abstract
Autoxidation of n-hexadecane had a profound effect on wear behavior as measured in a four-ball machine. For pure n-hexadecane, the wear of the stationary (continuously loaded) balls was very much greater than the wear of the rotating (cyclically loaded) ball under the test conditions employed. Mild autoxidation at 110-kPa oxygen pressure reversed this relationship. Mild autoxidation at low oxygen pressure gave intermediate results. This wear behavior can be related to differences in wear chemistry and contact kinematics for the apposing surfaces.