Advantages of CO2 compared to R410a refrigerant of tribologically tested Aluminum 390-T6 surfaces Academic Article

abstract

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is currently being investigated as a viable alternative refrigerant due to its environmental advantages. Much research is still needed regarding thermodynamic, tribological, and design issues, yet CO2 is a promising environmentally friendly refrigerant. This study investigates the physical and chemical changes of aluminum alloy disks that occur with increased severity tribotesting in the presence of either R410a or CO2 refrigerants while submerged in POE lubricant. Visibly and through surface profilometry, this study clearly shows that R410a environment results in increased disk wear compared to CO2 environment. In addition, Auger Electron Spectroscopy analysis was conducted showing that the oxygen concentration tends to increase with testing duration for both R410a and, to a greater extent, CO2 tested samples. When Auger data were compared for the R410a submerged in POE, CO2 submerged in PAG, and CO2 submerged in POE, the CO2 tested samples had significantly higher oxygen concentrations. This indicates that CO2 refrigerant is promoting a strong oxygenated layer, which reduces wear. 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

authors

• Polycarpou, Andreas

published proceedings

• TRIBOLOGY LETTERS

author list (cited authors)

• Cannaday, M. L., & Polycarpou, A. A.

citation count

• 14

complete list of authors

• Cannaday, ML||Polycarpou, AA

publication date

• March 2006

publisher

• Springer Nature  Publisher

published in

• TRIBOLOGY LETTERS  Journal

keywords

• Al390-t6
• Auger
• Carbon Dioxide
• R410a
• Refrigerant
• Scuffing
• Tribological Experiments
• Wear

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1007/s11249-005-9013-4

start page

• 185

end page

• 192

volume

• 21

issue

• 3

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11249-005-9013-4