ABSTRACT
The molecular arrangement in the lubricating film will affect the friction coefficient. When using liquid crystal as a lubricant, various methods can be tried to adjust the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules to actively control the lubrication effect. In this study, 5CB with a clearing point of 35°C was used as a lubricant. By changing the temperature, the lubricating molecules in the contact area were switched between an ordered liquid crystal state and a disordered liquid state, and a friction coefficient that changed synchronously with the temperature was obtained. It provides new ideas for active control of lubrication in the fields of smart bearings and emergency braking.
Graphical abstract
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Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).