Lanthanum dialkyldithiophosphate (LaDDP) was synthesized. Its tribological behavior was evaluated with a four-ball machine. The results show that LaDDP possesses very good antiwear and friction reduction capacities. The boundary film composition, characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), reveals that the antiwear and friction reduction layer containing metallic La, La_2O_3, phosphate, sulphate, tribopolmer and lanthanum tribodiffusion layer prevent the rubbing pairs from contacting directly and result in better extreme pressure and antiwear behavior. The microhardness of frictional surface increases by 25%. It indicates that the frictional surface is strengthened by La tribodiffusion layer. The tribological decomposition reactions of LaDDP are simulated through mass spectroscopy. Its tribological mechanism was suggested.
