Normal stress difference in liquid lubricants sheared under high pressure

Although normal stress differences in liquids have conventionally been associated with polymers, aspects of rheological behavior in lubricated concentrated contacts suggest that normal stress difference may be significant in even low molecular weight liquids sheared under high pressure and high shear stress. A torsional flow rheogoniometer was constructed for use at high (300 MPa) pressure. Four typical liquid lubricants were investigated, including one polymer/mineral oil solution. Shear stress and N₂-N₂ are reported as functions of shear rate. The effect of pressure variation is reported for two liquids. Results are compared with predictive techniques and a molecular dynamics simulation. Simple low molecular weight lubricant base oils can generate measurable and significant normal stress differences when sheared at high shear stress.