Structurally Induced Lubricity of Liquid Crystal Cholesterol Nanomaterials in the Friction of Metals

Abstract

It has been established experimentally that an change in temperature leads to a structurally induced increase in the lubricity of liquid crystal nanomaterials due to cholesterol phase transformations. It has been shown that the minimum values of the friction coefficient almost coincide with the peak values of the dynamic viscosity within this temperature range, thereby cumulatively arguing for the ordered state of liquid crystal cholesterol structures at these temperatures. As a result, it is possible to presume the formation of helically coiled layers of liquid crystal cholesterol molecules with a high antifriction effect within this temperature range in the friction zone. It is also observed that the thickness of liquid crystal cholesterol films appearing under friction reacts sensitively to the temperature changes in the zone of contact with discoloration and energy losses.