Lubricity of environmentally friendly HFO-1234yf refrigerant

Abstract Global warming concerns have triggered the interest in alternative refrigerants for air-conditioning and refrigeration compressors. Newly developed refrigerant HFO-1234yf is an attractive and environmentally friendly candidate to replace existing hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, such as R-134a. Herein, the tribological compatibility of gray cast iron material with this new refrigerant was investigated under aggressive unlubricated conditions. HFO-1234yf exhibits excellent performance compared to R-134a due to the formation of a fluorine-containing protective tribolayer on the topmost surface as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, inside and outside the wear tracks, revealed. The morphology of the layer was also studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies.

[1]  Kenneth C. Ludema,et al.  A review of scuffing and running-in of lubricated surfaces, with asperities and oxides in perspective , 1984 .

[2]  Wei-min Liu,et al.  Study on an antiwear and extreme pressure additive of surface coated LaF3 nanoparticles in liquid paraffin , 2001 .

[3]  A. Polycarpou,et al.  Tribological performance of PTFE-based coatings for air-conditioning compressors , 2008 .

[4]  A. Polycarpou,et al.  Comparative scuffing performance and chemical analysis of metallic surfaces for air-conditioning compressors in the presence of environmentally friendly CO2 refrigerant , 2010 .

[5]  A. Polycarpou,et al.  The significance of tribochemistry on the performance of PTFE-based coatings in CO2 refrigerant environment , 2009 .

[6]  G. Fenske,et al.  Scuffing mechanism of near-surface material during lubricated severe sliding contact , 2011 .

[7]  Jostein Pettersen,et al.  Fundamental process and system design issues in CO2 vapor compression systems , 2004 .

[8]  Savvas A. Tassou,et al.  Fault diagnosis and refrigerant leak detection in vapour compression refrigeration systems. , 2005 .

[9]  A. Dyson,et al.  Scuffing - a review , 1975 .

[10]  W. Stickle,et al.  Handbook of X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy , 1992 .

[11]  Rena Hecht Basch,et al.  Tribological study of gray cast iron with automotive brake linings: The effect of rotor microstructure , 2003 .

[12]  T. Conry,et al.  Scuffing of cast iron and Al390-T6 materials used in compressor applications , 2006 .

[13]  Unfccc.  Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , 1997 .

[14]  C. Mathew Mate,et al.  BOOK REVIEW: Tribology on the Small Scale: A Bottom Up Approach to Friction, Lubrication, and Wear , 2008 .

[15]  T. F. Conry,et al.  Tribological Studies on Scuffing Due to the Influence of Carbon Dioxide Used as a Refrigerant in Compressors , 2005 .

[16]  J. Lin,et al.  Rolling-Sliding Analysis in Ball Bearing Considering Thermal Effect , 2006 .

[17]  J. H. Darr.  Modeling of an Automotive Air Conditioning Compressor Based on Experimental Data , 1992 .

[18]  Seung Min Yeo,et al.  Tribological study of high bearing blended polymer-based coatings for air-conditioning and refrigeration compressors , 2011 .

[19]  A. Polycarpou,et al.  Lubricity effect of carbon dioxide used as an environmentally friendly refrigerant in air-conditioning and refrigeration compressors , 2010 .

[20]  Thomas Gradt,et al.  Friction and wear of PTFE composites at cryogenic temperatures , 2002 .

[21]  Masataka Nosaka,et al.  Effects of Iron Fluoride Layer on Durability of Cryogenic High-Speed Ball Bearings for Rocket Turbopumps , 2000 .

[22]  O. Kaynakli,et al.  An experimental analysis of automotive air conditioning system , 2003 .

[23]  O. Nielsen,et al.  Atmospheric chemistry of CF3CFCH2: Kinetics and mechanisms of gas-phase reactions with Cl atoms, OH radicals, and O3 , 2007 .

[24]  Andreas A. Polycarpou,et al.  Ultra High Pressure Tribometer for Testing CO2 Refrigerant at Chamber Pressures up to 2000 psi to Simulate Compressor Conditions , 2006 .

[25]  C. Cusano,et al.  Scuffing Under Dry Sliding Conditions—Part I: Experimental Studies , 1998 .

[26]  R. Akasaka,et al.  Thermodynamic property modeling for 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) , 2010 .

[27]  F. Kennedy,et al.  XPS analysis of the effect of fillers on PTFE transfer film development in sliding contacts , 1993 .