Chemical Reactivity of N-Iodopyridinium Dichlorodate as a Lubricant Additive

Small amounts of iodine compound in mineral oils are usually effective in reducing friction of metallic surfaces. Such improvement in frictional behaviour of wear characteristics was explained by the formation of a diiodide layer lattice structure at the metallic contact surfaces. The lubrication mechanism, however, by which organoiodine compounds functions is not based on the formation of such lattice structure iodide. It was tested and shown, by a static surface chemical reactivity test, wear and EP tests, and a hot wire method, that compound such as N-iodopyridinium dichlorodate, a double charge transfer complex, reacted with metals as an interhalogen compound and that the resultant thin film product reduced appreciable the friction of metallic surfaces, more than compounds such as methyl iodide, diiodomethane, and iodoform. These results suggest that the action of iodine, included in organoiodine compounds, is not that of a classical layer structure iodide, and an entirely new mechanism may be derived from a further studies on charge transfer complex compounds of organoiodine compounds.