Characterizing Tribological Films with FT-IR and Raman Microscopy

How to analyze tribo-films from rolling bearing tests to identify chemical composition and contamination pathways

This application note demonstrates how Bruker’s FT-IR, Raman, and micro-XRF technologies enable precise chemical characterization of tribo-films formed in rolling bearing tests using non-additized hydrocarbon lubricants. Using cylindrical roller thrust bearings (type 81212) under FE8 test conditions, the study reveals the influence of lubricant chemistry on tribo-film composition.

Key points

Multi-modal analysis using ATR FT-IR, Raman, and micro-XRF enables detailed chemical mapping of tribo-films under real mechanical stress conditions.
Detection of unexpected sulfur species in sulfur-free lubricants points to previously unrecognized contamination pathways or tribo-chemical reactions.
Non-destructive mapping with micro-XRF significantly improves throughput and reveals spatial correlations between tribological stress and elemental distribution.

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Download the full application note to learn how Bruker’s instruments help uncover critical chemical and structural details that influence bearing reliability and lubricant performance.

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