Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/M12780/01
Title:	RAMAN STUDY OF LUBRICANT FILMS IN CONTACT
Principal Investigator:	Spikes, Professor HA
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Unilever
Department:	Mechanical Engineering
Organisation:	Imperial College London
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 September 1998	Ends:	31 August 2001	Value (£):	176,038
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Eng. Dynamics & Tribology Surfaces & Interfaces
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
A Raman spectrograph system will be coupled with a specially designed, rolling and sliding ball on flat tribometer so that Raman spectra can be mapped across lubricant films within contacts. The system will initially be used in three studies, looking at progressively thinner and thinner films; both to optimise the system and to investigate thin film lubricant behaviour. Areas studied will be (i) pressure mapping across thick EHD films; (ii) fractionation of base fluid blends in thin film contacts; (iii) surfactant additive behaviour in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions in thin film contactsThereafter the equipment will be used to support and enhance a number of studies in tribology, including the mechanism of friction modifier and antiwear additives, EHD film shear stress behaviour, grease lubrication and fretting.
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Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.imperial.ac.uk