The growth concentration of cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) in lubricating materials was found to reduce the time needed to achieve the optimal tribological characteristics. It was also noted that, in the presence of small amounts of CLC in the lubricating material, the initial microrelief of the friction surfaces transformed into the flat topped one during friction. A mechanism of CLC lubricity is proposed based on established regularities, according to which the gradual wear dosed by the friction induced adsorption of CLC molecules in the lubricating material leads to the appearance of a flat topped submicrotopography on the friction surfaces. This provides the conditions for the continuous formation of a lubricating film made from CLC molecules that screens the conjugated friction surfaces.
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