Temperature Gradients Through EHD Films and Molecular Alignment Evidenced By Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

Partial and complete emission band reversals have been observed in the infrared emission spectra from portions of operating sliding contacts. An elementary analysis has been carried out to show that partial reversals are due to temperature gradients in the fluid film—the film acts both as a radiation-emitter and absorber, and that total reversals—an emission spectrum appears as an absorption spectrum—are likely to be due to a continuum source, such as hot solid asperities. The total energy radiated under the latter conditions exceeds that under the others. A decrease in gap width with increased load was accompanied by a dramatic spectral change in the case of 5P4E polyphenyl ether, which is indicative of molecular alignment.