There are different reasons for choosing wear and friction control additives for lubricants. Typically, these are broken down into categories of AW or anti-wear and EP or extreme-pressure additives.
Both of these options protect the surface of metals, helping to protect the surface by creating a barrier and limiting metal-on-metal contact. Should the barrier or film degrade, the metal surfaces make contact and begin to wear.
The Best Anti-Wear Oil Additive
In choosing the best anti-wear oil additive, it is important to understand the application parameters. These additives are activated or triggered by increased load or by temperature. As the load and temperature increase, the additive interacts chemically with the surface of the metal. It creates what is known as a sacrificial surface that is available when the lubricant is no longer effective at creating the necessary protective film.
The best anti-wear oil additive for the application is designed to protect the surface of the metal from damage due to physical contact between the two surfaces and also from corrosive acids and the changes in the base oil through oxidation. As the base oil degrades, the presence of a quality anti-wear additive becomes even more critical to the reduced wear and tear on parts and components.
There are a variety of options for anti-wear additives. One of the most popular is zinc dialkyldithiophosphate or ZDDP, which is made from phosphorous compounds and zinc. Another common additive that protects against wear are triarylphosphates, which can also be used as extreme-pressure additives.
