Organic molybdenum lubricant additive like molybdenum dialkyl dithiocarbamate (MoDTC) can cause wear acceleration of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating coupled with steel under boundary lubrication, which hinders its industrial application. Therefore, polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBS), an organo molybdenum amide, was adopted to modify molybdenum oxide affording molybdenum polyisobutylene succinimide- molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MPIBS-MONPs) with potential to prevent the wear acceleration of DLC coating. The thermal stability of MPIBS-MONPs was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. Their tribological properties as the additives in di-isooctyl sebacate (DIOS) were evaluated with MoDTC as a control; and their tribomechanism was investigated in relation to their tribochemical reactions and synergistic tribological effect with zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) as well as worn surface characterizations. Findings indicate that MPIBS-MONPs/ZDDP added in DIOS can significantly reduce the friction and wear of DLC coating, being much superior to MoDTC. This is because MPIBS-MONPs and ZDDP jointly take part in tribochemical reactions to form a composite tribofilm that can increase the wear resistance of DLC coating. Namely, the molybdenum amide on MPIBS-MONPs surface can react with ZDDP to form MoS₂ film with excellent friction-reducing ability; and MPIBS-MONPs can release molybdenum oxide nanoparticle to form deposited lubrication layer on worn surfaces. The as-formed composite tribofilm consisting of molybdenum oxide nanocrystal, amorphous polyphosphate, and molybdenum disulfide as well as a small amount of Mo₂C accounts for the increase in the wear resistance of DLC coating under boundary lubrication.

A magnetic ionic liquid (abridged as MIL) [C₆mim]₅[Dy(SCN)₈] was prepared and used as the magnetic lubricant of a steel-steel sliding pair. The tribological properties of the as-prepared MIL were evaluated with a commercially obtained magnetic fluid lubricant (abridged as MF; the mixture of dioctyl sebacate and Fe₃O₄, denoted as DIOS-Fe₃O₄) as a control. The lubrication mechanisms of the two types of magnetic lubricants were discussed in relation to worn surface analyses by SEM-EDS, XPS, and profilometry, as well as measurement of the electric contact resistance of the rubbed steel surfaces. The results revealed that the MIL exhibits better friction-reducing and antiwear performances than the as-received MF under varying test temperatures and loads. This is because the MIL participates in tribochemical reactions during the sliding process, and forms a boundary lubrication film composed of Dy₂O₃, FeS, FeSO₄, nitrogen-containing organics, and thioether on the rubbed disk surface, thereby reducing the friction and wear of the frictional pair. However, the MF is unable to form a lubricating film on the surface of the rubbed steel at 25 ^°C, though it can form a boundary film consisting of Fe₃O₄ and a small amount of organics under high temperature. Furthermore, the excessive Fe₃O₄ particulates that accumulate in the sliding zone may lead to enhanced abrasive wear of the sliding pair.