Surface Tribochemistry: PFPAE Lubricants

Abstract

The principle objective of this research project was to develop and apply methods for study of the surface chemistry of long chain oligomeric species such as perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPE) lubricants. The PFPEs are liquid lubricants used for a number of very high temperature applications. They typically have molecular weights in the range 1,000 - 10,000 amu and have very low vapor pressures. These molecular weights correspond to structures with ^20 to 200 CF2 units. The primary accomplishment of the work performed under this grant was the design, development, and testing of a dosing system that allows the introduction of such compounds into an ultrahigh vacuum system used for surface analysis. This device has been tested with a study of the adsorption an desorption of long chain alkanes and PFPEs on the surface of graphite. The device is now being used for studies of the adsorption and desorption of high molecular weight, low vapor pressure species such as PFPE liquid lubricants and vapor phase lubricants such as tricresylphosphate (TCP).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 16, 2000
Accession Number
ADA383437

Entities

People

  • Andrew J. Gellman

Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adsorption
  • Air Force
  • Chemistry
  • Desorption
  • Films
  • Graphitic Materials
  • High Temperature
  • High Vacuum
  • Lubricants
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Molecular Weight
  • Quartz Crystal Microbalances
  • Surface Chemistry
  • Vacuum
  • Vapor Phases
  • Vapor Pressure

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Polymer Science and Technology
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).