Preparation and Experimental Investigation of the Tribological Properties of Conductive Grease Containing Ionic Liquids

This thesis project was executed at ABB AB. The purpose of the thesis was to formulate aselection of ionic liquids with different thickeners as greases and experimentally understand thetribological characteristics and electrical properties. The performance of four ionic liquids, 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (IL6), 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (IL2), 1-Hexyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (IL3), and 1-Hexyl-1-methylpyrrolidiniumbis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (IL4) and two thickeners, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)powder and lithium stearate were evaluated for tribological and electrical properties. Two ionicliquids, 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide, 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamidefailed to form stable greases due to poor miscibility with the thickeners. Frictional tests for all thecomposed grease were performed and afterwards analyzed with a light optical microscope forassessment of the wear tracks. Electrical conductivity was measured with a contact resistancetest setup. Moreover, the dropping point for the greases was measured to ensure theformulations were qualified as lubricant greases. Ionic liquid greases containing PTFE as athickener show better thermal stability than those containing lithium stearate. In regards to antiwearand friction reduction, the results indicate better tribological properties for the IL3 and IL4with the 25 wt% of PTFE and lithium stearate. The electrical conductivities were similar for allthe ionic liquid grease formulations which were higher than the general purpose grease as thereference. The work has paved the way for further investigation of ionic liquid based greaseswhich show potential in mitigation of bearing current in electric machines