Lubricating properties of water in oil emulsions

In this study the effect of water as a contaminant in lubricated contacts was analytically and experimentally investigated. A steel ball on glass disc apparatus was used to measure lubricant film thickness of pure oil and water in oil emulsions under various operating conditions. A steel ball on steel disc rig was used to measure friction as a function of various loads, slide to roll ratios and water in oil emulsions. A finite difference numerical model was developed using the continuum theory of mixtures and results were corroborated with the experimental measurements. Numerical results are in excellent agreement with the experimental results and indicate that water will flow around the contact. The experimental and analytical results suggest that for heavilly loaded contacts water-in-oil emulsions perform essentially the same as pure oils.