Abstract
A literature survey showed that the lubricating mechanism of tricresyl phosphate (TCP) was not clear. The theory of polishing by formation of an iron-iron phosphide eutectic was not supported. Wear reduction by the formation of iron phosphate was more reasonable. Experimental work was conducted which showed that when steel sliding on steel was lubricated with TCP, a film consisting of a mixture of FePO4 and FePO4 · 2H2O was formed. Other friction and wear experiments and film analyses supported the phosphate mechanism.
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