Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials: Tribology and Applications (Springer Series in Materials Science, 267)

This book discusses the tribological, rheological and optical properties of liquid-crystal nanomaterials as well as lubricant media. It also describes the formation of liquid-crystal materials and the application of cholesteric liquid-crystal compounds in technical friction units and in human and animal joints. Further, it shows the connection between the tribological and other physical properties of liquid-crystal cholesterol compounds and develops a lubricity conceptual model of cholesteric–nematic, liquid-crystalline nanostructures on the basis of physical and energetic interpretations. This general model is valid for all surfaces and friction pairs, including biopolymers, and could lead to applications of cholesteric liquid-crystalline nanomaterials in different friction units and tribosystems as well as in the treatment of joint diseases. Preface About the Book Contents Acronyms and Nomenclature Introduction References 1 Structure and Properties of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials 1.1 Classification and Structure of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials 1.2 Mesomorphous and Optical Properties of Cholesteric Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials 1.3 Physical Anisotropy and Application of Cholesteric Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials References 2 Tribology and Lubrication of Solids 2.1 Modern Antifriction and Antiwear Additives in Tribology (Passive Friction Control) 2.2 Present-Day Advances in Control of Antifriction Behavior of Solids (Active Friction Control) 2.3 Effect of Lattice-Ordered Lubricant Film on Friction of Solids 2.3.1 Structure of Fine Fluid Layers on the Solid Body Contact 2.3.2 Surface Forces in Fine Fluid Interlayers 2.3.3 Effects Observed During Deformation of Structured Boundary Layers 2.3.4 The Concept of the Micropolar Fluid and Related Hydrodynamic Effects 2.4 Tribology of Synovial Joints—Unique Natural Rubbing Organs 2.4.1 Theories and Hypotheses About Lubrication in the Living Joints 2.4.2 Conceptual Approaches to the Explanation of Low Friction in the Joints References 3 Engineering and Technique of Experimental Tests of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials 3.1 Triboengineering Tests 3.1.1 Triboengineering Tests on Standard Equipment 3.1.2 Integral-Counting Method for Estimation of Small Variations of Oscillation Parameters for High-Precision Tribometry 3.1.3 Experimental Setup for the Simulation of Friction Processes in Natural Rubbing Organs–Joints 3.1.4 Tribometric Equipment for Precision Tests of Metal- and Biopolymer Coupling 3.2 Methods to Determine the Structuring Additives and Their Content in the Basic Compositions 3.2.1 Infrared Spectroscopy 3.2.2 Determination of the Concentration of the Liquid Crystal Additive in the Base Compositions by Measuring a Rotation Angle of Polarization Plane 3.2.3 Development of Methods and Equipment to Control the Mesophase of Cholesteric Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials and Their Compounds References 4 Tribological Properties of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials 4.1 Influence of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials on Friction of Chemically-Inactive Materials 4.2 Influence of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials on Friction of Metal Tribosystems 4.3 Adsorptive Properties of Liquid-Crystal Compounds 4.3.1 Interaction of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials with Hard Surface in Static Contact 4.3.2 Triboinduced Adsorption of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials Under Frictional Interaction of Solids 4.4 The Role of Liquid-Crystal Additives in Mechanism of Friction, Wear, and Lubrication of Tribosystems 4.5 Diagnostics of Liquid-Crystal Cholesterol Compounds in Lubricants by Optical Methods 4.6 Lubricity of Cholesteric Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials and Their Mixtures Depending on Temperature References 5 Practical Application of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterial in Engineering and Medicine 5.1 Application of Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials When Running-In of Internal-Combustion Engines 5.2 Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials as Antiwear Engine Oil Additives 5.3 Assessment of Liquid-Crystal Compositions’ Efficiency When Polishing of Diamonds 5.4 Artificial Mediums Based on Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials for Correction of Joint Tribology 5.5 Lubricants Based on Vacuum Oil Distillates and Liquid-Crystal Nanomaterials References Conclusions Index