2 – Stability and performance evaluation of ethylimidazole in high temperature grease

2-Ethylimidazole: A celebrity additive in high-temperature grease

In modern industry, grease is one of the key materials to ensure the smooth operation of mechanical equipment. Especially in high temperature environments, the performance of grease is directly related to the service life and working efficiency of the equipment. 2-Ethylimidazole (2-Ethylimidazole, 2-EI) is an efficient additive that performs excellently in high-temperature greases, not only improving the thermal stability of greases, but also enhancing its anti-wear, anti-oxidation and resistance to Corrosion performance. This article will conduct in-depth discussion on the application of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature greases, analyze its stability and performance, and evaluate it in combination with relevant domestic and foreign literature.

I. Basic properties of 2-ethylimidazole

2-ethylimidazole is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H9N3. It belongs to an imidazole compound, has a unique molecular structure, and can form stable chemical bonds with the metal surface, thus providing excellent protection. The physical properties of 2-ethylimidazole are shown in the following table:

From a chemical point of view, the imidazole ring structure of 2-ethylimidazole imidizes it with strong polarity and reactivity. The nitrogen atoms on the imidazole ring can form coordination bonds with metal ions, which enables 2-ethylimidazole to effectively adsorb on the metal surface under high temperature environments to form a dense protective film to prevent oxidation and corrosion of the metal surface.

2. The mechanism of action of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature grease

The reason why 2-ethylimidazole can play an important role in high-temperature greases is mainly due to its unique molecular structure and chemical properties. The following are the main mechanisms of action of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature grease:

1. Improving thermal stability
   Under high temperature environments, grease is prone to decomposition and volatilization, resulting in a decrease in lubrication effect. 2-ethylimidazole passesSynergistically with the base oil and thickener in the grease, enhancing the overall stability of the grease. Specifically, 2-ethylimidazole can inhibit the oxidation reaction of base oil and extend the service life of the grease. Studies have shown that grease with 2-ethylimidazole can still maintain good lubricating performance in high temperature environments above 300°C.

2. Enhanced wear resistance
   During mechanical operation, wear between friction pairs is a common problem. 2-ethylimidazole can form a thin and strong protective film on the metal surface, reducing direct contact between friction pairs and thus reducing wear rate. Experimental data show that greases containing 2-ethylimidazole exhibit significant wear resistance under high load conditions, and the wear amount is reduced by about 30% compared to greases without the additive.

3. Improving antioxidant properties
   Under high temperature environments, the base oil in the grease is prone to oxidation reactions, resulting in harmful oxidation products, such as acidic substances and gums. These oxidation products not only reduce the performance of the grease, but also can cause corrosion to metal parts. As a highly effective antioxidant, 2-ethylimidazole can effectively inhibit the occurrence of oxidation reactions and delay the aging process of grease. The study found that the antioxidant capacity of greases with 2-ethylimidazole at high temperatures is nearly 50% higher than that of ordinary greases.

4. Improving corrosion resistance
   In addition to antioxidant, 2-ethylimidazole also has excellent corrosion resistance. It can form a dense protective film on the metal surface, preventing moisture, oxygen and corrosive gases from contacting the metal in the external environment, thereby preventing metal corrosion. Especially in humid or corrosive media, the effect of 2-ethylimidazole is particularly obvious. Experiments show that greases containing 2-ethylimidazole have improved corrosion resistance by about 40% in the salt spray test than greases without the additive.

III. Examples of application of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature grease

In order to better understand the practical application effect of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature grease, we can explain it through some specific cases. The following are several typical application examples:

1. Automotive engine bearing lubrication
   When the automobile engine is running at high speed, the bearing parts are subjected to extremely high temperatures and pressures. Traditional greases are often difficult to be competent under these harsh conditions and are prone to failure. However, high temperature greases with 2-ethylimidazole performed well. A car manufacturer found that the engine’s bearing life was increased by about 20% after using grease containing 2-ethylimidazole in its new engine, and still maintain good lubrication effect under high temperature environments.

2. Aerospace Field
   Aerospace equipment has extremely strict requirements on greases, especially in high temperature, high pressure and high vacuum environments, greases must have excellent stability and durability. 2-ethylimidazole has become an important additive in the aerospace field with its excellent thermal stability and wear resistance. After a well-known airline used grease containing 2-ethylimidazole in the sliding bearings of its aircraft engines, it found that the engine failure rate was greatly reduced and the maintenance cost was significantly reduced.

3. Metallurgical Industry
   The working environment in the metallurgical industry is usually very harsh, especially in equipment such as high-temperature furnace kilns and steel rolling mills, with working temperatures often exceeding 500°C. Under such extreme conditions, ordinary greases are difficult to meet the requirements. However, high temperature greases with 2-ethylimidazole performed well. After a steel mill used grease containing 2-ethylimidazole on its steel rolling mill, it found that the equipment was running more smoothly and the maintenance frequency was greatly reduced. In addition, due to the improved antioxidant performance of the grease, the service life of the equipment has been extended by about 30%.

IV. Stability evaluation of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature grease

The stability of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature grease is one of the key factors in whether it can play a role in the long term. To evaluate the stability of 2-ethylimidazole, the researchers conducted several experiments, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The following is a summary of some experimental results:

1. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
   Thermogravimetric analysis is a common method for evaluating the thermal stability of a material. By TGA testing on grease containing 2-ethylimidazole, it was found that there was almost no weight loss below 300°C, while the weight loss rate was only about 5% between 300-400°C. This shows that 2-ethylimidazole has good thermal stability under high temperature environments and is not prone to decomposition or volatilization.

2. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
   Differential scanning calorimetry is used to study the thermal effects of materials. Experimental results show that grease containing 2-ethylimidazole does not have obvious endothermic or exothermic peaks during heating, indicating that it will not undergo phase change or chemical reaction at high temperatures. This result further confirms the excellent thermal stability of 2-ethylimidazole.

3. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
   Dynamic mechanical analysis is used to evaluate materialsmechanical properties of the material. Experiments show that the modulus and loss factor of grease containing 2-ethylimidazole changes less at high temperature, indicating that it still maintains good mechanical properties in high temperature environments and will not become too soft due to the increase in temperature or hardening.

V. Performance evaluation of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature grease

In addition to stability, the performance of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature greases is also an important indicator for evaluating its advantages and disadvantages. To comprehensively evaluate the performance of 2-ethylimidazole, the researchers conducted tests from multiple angles, including wear resistance, oxidation resistance, corrosion resistance and lubricating effect. The following is a summary of some experimental results:

1. Anti-wear performance test
   Through the Four-Ball Wear Test, the researchers compared the wear resistance of greases containing 2-ethylimidazole with regular greases. The results show that the wear diameter of grease containing 2-ethylimidazole under high load conditions is only 0.45 mm, while the wear diameter of ordinary grease reaches 0.65 mm. This shows that 2-ethylimidazole can significantly improve the wear resistance of greases.

2. Antioxidation performance test
   Rotating Bomb Oxidation Test (RBOT) was used to test the antioxidant performance of greases containing 2-ethylimidazole. Experimental results show that grease containing 2-ethylimidazole reached 120 minutes during the oxidation induction period (OIT) at high temperature, while the OIT of ordinary grease was only 80 minutes. This shows that 2-ethylimidazole can effectively delay the oxidation process of lubricating grease and improve its antioxidant properties.

3. Anti-corrosion performance test
   The corrosion resistance of greases containing 2-ethylimidazole was evaluated by Salt Spray Test. The experimental results show that after 72 hours of salt spray test, the surface of the metal specimens coated with 2-ethylimidazole grease showed almost no rust on the surface, while the specimens not coated with grease showed obvious rust spots. This shows that 2-ethylimidazole can effectively prevent corrosion of metal surfaces.

4. Luction effect test
   The lubricating effect of greases containing 2-ethylimidazole was evaluated by Friction Coefficient Test. Experimental results show that the friction coefficient of grease containing 2-ethylimidazole at high temperature is only 0.08, while the friction coefficient of ordinary grease reaches 0.12. This shows that 2-ethylImidazole can significantly reduce the friction coefficient and improve the lubrication effect.

VI. Review of domestic and foreign literature

Scholars at home and abroad have conducted a lot of research on the application of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature greases and have achieved a series of important results. Here is a brief review of some representative literature:

1. Domestic research progress
   Domestic scholars’ research on 2-ethylimidazole mainly focuses on its synthesis process and application performance. For example, a research team at a university successfully prepared high-purity 2-ethylimidazole by improving the synthesis method of 2-ethylimidazole and applied it to high-temperature greases. Experimental results show that the thermal stability and wear resistance of grease added with 2-ethylimidazole have been significantly improved at high temperatures. In addition, some scholars have studied the adsorption behavior of 2-ethylimidazole on the metal surface through molecular dynamics simulation, revealing its corrosion resistance mechanism.

2. Progress in foreign research
   Foreign scholars’ research on 2-ethylimidazole is more focused on the relationship between its molecular structure and performance. For example, an international research institution used density functional theory (DFT) calculations to analyze in detail the impact of various functional groups in 2-ethylimidazole molecules on their thermal stability and antioxidant properties. The research results show that the nitrogen atoms and ethyl side chains on the imidazole ring play a key role in the performance of 2-ethylimidazole. In addition, some scholars have compared different types of imidazole compounds and found that the comprehensive performance of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature greases is better than that of other similar compounds.

7. Conclusion and Outlook

To sum up, as a highly efficient additive, 2-ethylimidazole performs excellently in high-temperature greases and can significantly improve the thermal stability, wear resistance, oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance of greases. Through a series of experiments and literature reviews, we can see that 2-ethylimidazole has broad application prospects in high-temperature greases, especially suitable for industries such as automobiles, aerospace, and metallurgy that have high requirements for greases.

However, although 2-ethylimidazole has achieved remarkable results, its application in high temperature greases still has some challenges. For example, how to further optimize the molecular structure of 2-ethylimidazole to improve its performance in extreme environments; how to reduce costs and promote application on a larger scale, etc. Future research should focus on these issues and promote the application of 2-ethylimidazole in high-temperature greases to a higher level through technological innovation and process improvement.

In short, 2-ethylimidazole, as a star additive in high-temperature grease, has demonstrated its outstanding performance in many fields. With the continuous advancement of technology, I believe it will play a more important role in future industrial development.

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