Comments on: Phosphating http://www.ret-monitor.com/articles/2016/phosphating/ Specific mission-critical info for professionals Fri, 18 May 2012 09:31:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Terry http://www.ret-monitor.com/articles/2016/phosphating/comment-page-1/#comment-9983 Terry Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:46:03 +0000 http://www.ret-monitor.com/articles/2016/phosphating/#comment-9983 I would argue that the notion of phosphate treatments providing "lubricity" during the initial running of an engine is a bit of an old-wives tale, since it ignores the basics of lubrication theory. The phosphate coating will have no effect on whether the ring contacts are hydrodynamic or boundary. If the contacts are hydrodynamic, the coating has no effect. If the contacts are boundary, the thin phosphate layer will quickly shear away in just a few load cycles. While inert surface coatings like oxides or phosphates can prevent galling, they only remain effective as long as they are present. Oil additives work because they constantly renew this layer on the metal surfaces. The only real benefit of phosphate coatings is to provide some limited corrosion resistance. I would argue that the notion of phosphate treatments providing “lubricity” during the initial running of an engine is a bit of an old-wives tale, since it ignores the basics of lubrication theory. The phosphate coating will have no effect on whether the ring contacts are hydrodynamic or boundary. If the contacts are hydrodynamic, the coating has no effect. If the contacts are boundary, the thin phosphate layer will quickly shear away in just a few load cycles.

While inert surface coatings like oxides or phosphates can prevent galling, they only remain effective as long as they are present. Oil additives work because they constantly renew this layer on the metal surfaces. The only real benefit of phosphate coatings is to provide some limited corrosion resistance.

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