Surface restoration induced by lubricant additive of natural minerals

The effect of a new-fashioned lubricant additive is studied. The additive is prepared out of natural minerals containing flaky silicate, schungite and some other catalyzers. Applications of the additive obviously improve the surface mechanics properties of steel–steel friction pairs, and the nanohardness and the modulus of the friction surface are increased by 67 and 90%, respectively. The friction surface is especially examined with the high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and an amorphous restoration film mostly made up of C with some Si or Si–O amorphous structure doped was found. Considering all research results about the restoration film, this study suggests the film is a sort of diamondlike carbon film (DLC film).