Current research on room-temperature ionic liquids as lubricants is described.\r\nIonic liquids possess excellent properties such as non-volatility, non-flammability, and\r\nthermo-oxidative stability. The potential use of ionic liquids as lubricants was first\r\nproposed in 2001 and approximately 70 articles pertaining to fundamental research on\r\nionic liquids have been published through May 2009. A large majority of the cations\r\nexamined in this area are derived from 1,3-dialkylimidazolium, with a higher alkyl group\r\non the imidazolium cation being beneficial for good lubrication, while it reduces the\r\nthermo-oxidative stability. Hydrophobic anions provide both good lubricity and significant\r\nthermo-oxidative stability. The anions decompose through a tribochemical reaction to\r\ngenerate metal fluoride on the rubbed surface. Additive technology to improve lubricity is\r\nalso explained. An introduction to tribology as an interdisciplinary field of lubrication is\r\nalso provided.
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