Pressure-Temperature-Viscosity and Elastohydrodynamic Characteristics of Two Perfluoropolyalkylether Fluids

Pressure-temperature-viscosity characteristics of a branched and a linear, commercial perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPAE) fluid were studied under high pressures and temperatures. The effects of these properties on the capabilities of these fluids to generate elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) film thickness were studied and compared with experimental measurements. Both of these fluids seem to follow the classical EHL theory. Experimental measurements showed that the EHL-film-generating capability and the experimental traction values for the branched PFPAE were much higher than those for the linear PFPAE.