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The Influence of Molecular Architecture on the Macroscopic Lubrication Properties of the Brush-Like Co-polyelectrolyte Poly(L-lysine)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) Adsorbed on Oxide Surfaces

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Abstract

The co-polymer poly(L-lysine)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) has been investigated as a potential biomimetic boundary-lubrication additive for aqueous lubrication systems. In this work, the influence of the co-polymer's architecture on its tribological performance has been investigated. The architectural parameters investigated comprise side-chain (PEG) length, Lys/PEG grafting ratio and backbone chain (PLL) length. The tribological approaches applied in this work include ultra-thin-film interferometry, the mini-traction machine (MTM), and pin-on-disk tribometry. Both an increase in the molecular weight of the PEG side chains and a reduction in the grafting ratio result in an improvement in the lubricating properties of aqueous PLL-g-PEG solution at low speeds. MTM measurements show that an increase in the molecular weight of the PLL backbone results in an increase of the coefficient of friction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology, Department of Materials, ETH-Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, Zürich, CH-8092, Switzerland

    Markus Müller, Seunghwan Lee & Nicholas D. Spencer

  2. Tribology Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College, London, SW7 2BX, UK

    Hugh A. Spikes

Authors
  1. Markus Müller
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  2. Seunghwan Lee
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  3. Hugh A. Spikes
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  4. Nicholas D. Spencer
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Correspondence to Nicholas D. Spencer.

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Müller, M., Lee, S., Spikes, H.A. et al. The Influence of Molecular Architecture on the Macroscopic Lubrication Properties of the Brush-Like Co-polyelectrolyte Poly(L-lysine)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) Adsorbed on Oxide Surfaces. Tribology Letters 15, 395–405 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:TRIL.0000003063.98583.bb

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:TRIL.0000003063.98583.bb

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