A Simple Flow Model for Amorphous Molecular Solids

Theoretical and experimental investigations suggest that EHD oil films exhibit amorphous solid properties. Therefore, oil EHD traction properties may be found by the shear of corresponding molecular solids, such as amorphous paraffin. To check this possibility, the viscosity of solid paraffin under controlled pressure and temperature is measured on a computer assisted shear device. Experimental results indicate that some viscosity properties in amorphous solids do not match those found in liquids. AFM investigations show that solid paraffin structure is a mixture of clusters and simple molecules. A possible mechanism of flow in molecular amorphous solid was advanced which explains the observed discrepancies.