boundary lubrication


boundary lubrication

[′bau̇n·drē ‚lü·brə′kā·shən] (engineering) A lubricating condition that is a combination of solid-to-solid surface contact and liquid-film shear.

boundary lubrication

A phase in lubrication in which a thin film of oil only a few molecules thick separates two rubbing surfaces. It can occur because of a high bearing load, inadequate viscosity, oil starvation, or loss of oil pressure. Boundary lubrication is not a desirable phase of lubrication as a rupture of the thin film means wear and even seizure.