Functional fluids to reduce friction: from automotive to the "renewables" sector

无论是全球在二氧化碳排放问题上的立场已经达到“临界点”，还是我们正在迈向新的气候里程碑，压倒性的证据都得出结论，需要拥抱科学技术的进步，以实现对气候变化的控制。没有比减少全球交通运输排放更紧迫的技术挑战了。该课程将通过了解新型有机摩擦改进剂(OFM)的作用直接解决这一问题，同时还将帮助从依赖化石燃料(内燃机)燃烧的技术过渡到风能和潮汐能的开发。为了在理解(和优化)OFMS方面做出必要的步骤改变，需要先进的技术来探测超薄膜的物理和化学性质。这里要研究的材料是聚(2-恶唑啉)S(POX)，由于其生物相容性和易于调节参数(如溶解度、结晶度、热转变等)而被广泛应用于材料科学、生物化学和生物医学中。该项目的目标是-将新技术(原位原子力显微镜)引入OFMS的研究-优化OFM在全配方油中的使用，以促进内燃机燃料消耗降低1%-通过研究高应力部件(如齿轮)中的微点蚀，将分子的摩擦和磨损控制功能转化到风力涡轮机部门。将摩擦化学引入复杂接触中的摩擦和磨损模拟

Whether the global position on CO2 emissions has reached a "tipping point" or we are embarking on new climate milestones, the overwhelming body of evidence concludes that advances in science and technology need to be embraced to bring about control of climate change. There can be no more pressing technological challenge than to reduce the global emissions from transportation. This studentship will directly address this through the understanding of the action of new Organic Friction Modifiers (OFMs), whilst also assisting in the transition from technologies relying on burning of fossil fuels (IC Engines) to the development of wind and tidal energy. To make the step change needed in the understanding (and optimisation) of OFMs, advanced techniques are required to probe the physical and chemical properties of ultra-thin films. The class of materials to be studied here is the Poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx) which have been used extensively in materials science, biochemistry, and biomedicine due to their biocompatibility and the ease of tuning parameters such as solubility, crystallinity, thermal transitions, etc. The POx of interest here have been molecularly designed to be oil soluble, while retaining strong friction-reducing properties. The objectives of the project are - To bring new techniques (in-situ atomic force microscopy) to the study of OFMs- To optimise OFM use in fully formulated oils to facilitate a reduction of 1% in the fuel consumption in the IC engine- To translate the friction and wear controlling functions of the OF molecules to the wind turbine sector through the study of micropitting in high stressed components like gears.To build tribochemistry into the modelling of friction and wear in complex contacts