Film forming behavior in thin film lubrication at high speeds

The film forming condition may transit into thin film lubrication (TFL) at high speeds when it is under severe starvation. Central film thicknesses and film thickness profiles are obtained via a technique of relative optical interference intensity. These profiles show a critical film thickness lower than which the absolute values of the film thickness gradient against speed or time decrease. It is possible to be in the thin film lubrication mode under such conditions. The high speed flow drives the lubricant molecules to rearrange in TFL and critical film thickness higher than 100 nm is achieved. The viscosity is one of the main factors controlling the decreasing rate and the critical film thickness. This paper is designed to investigate the thin film lubrication behavior at high speeds.