Formation of adhesive bonds under contact rotaprint lubrication

The mechanism of the formation of adhesive bonds of a friction modifier (a lubricant based on bitumen) with a wheel of railway transport is considered. Calculations performed using quantum chemical methods allow us to draw a conclusion on the existence of the physical adsorption of this lubricant on a wheel surface. The lubrication’s effectiveness can be improved using fatty acids whose introduction into the lubricating material leads to the formation of chemical bonds in the system; this is experimentally confirmed for the contact rotaprint lubrication technology.