THE IMPORTANCE OF VISCOSITY: Some Experiments on Friction and Viscosity

ALTHOUGH the physical and chemical properties of lubricating oils have been significantly improved since World War II there is no indication that these improvements have led to a reduction of wear rates in engines and other mechanical equipment. Automobile crankcases are cleaner and ring sticking something of a rarity nowadays, while oil circulation has been improved. It was reasonable to expect that the last‐named benefit would lead to a reduction of wear due to cold‐starting, but the rate of wear continues at much the same rate as before World War II. One asks : have the benefits been commensurate with the expenditure on lubricant research? As a corollary comes the question : has research been directed to the right channels?