Determination of the Tribological Fundamentals of Solid Lubricated Ceramics. Volume 1. Summary
Abstract
The goals, structure and highlights of a recently completed multiyear/multinational research program are described. The main driving force behind this effort was the aim to advance the technology base so engineers can successfully and confidentially design, build and operate solid lubricated ceramic tribocomponents in extreme environments. Specially designed friction and wear testers were employed to perform well-defined model experiment on single crystal and polycrystalline ceramics and solid lubricants. The research led to discoveries such as (1) a lubricious oxide with the shear strength of molybdenum disulfides in vacuum, (2) CVD diamond films with low friction and extraordinarily low wear, (3) intercalated graphites with high tribothermal resistance in vacuum and in air, and (4) a wear equation for silicon nitride ceramics. The fundamental nature of the research was exemplified by ab-initio predictions of the friction coefficient of single crystal diamond sliding against its mating diamond plane, and molecular dynamics calculations on single crystal calcium fluorides and barium fluorides interface shear forces. The test equipment developed for completing the model experiments included an Auger/ESCA tribometer capable of unidirectional and oscillatory sliding at room temperature, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) tribometer designed for oscillatory sliding to 1000 C in vacuum and in partial pressures of reactive gases, an 850 C + dual-rubshoe friction and wear tester employing a rolling contact fatigue rod as one of the sliding specimens, and 850 C + friction/ traction apparatus capable of operating to extraordinary high PV limits.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA243219
Entities
People
- Michael N. Gardos
Organizations
- Hughes Aircraft Company