Linking Tribofilm Nanomechanics to the Origin of Low Friction and Wear
Abstract
Solid lubricants are required in applications where traditional lubricants are precluded by challenging environmental conditions (e.g. space). However, the mechanisms that enable low friction and low wear sliding of these systems remain poorly understood. Recent studies have demonstrated low friction sliding is consistently accompanied by nanoscale tribo-films whose properties and contributions to friction reduction are unknown. The goal of this study was to elucidate the role of nanoscale tribofilms in friction and wear reduction by correlating macroscale tribological properties with the results of in-situ measurements of transfer film morphology, chemistry, and nanomechanical properties. The materials included molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), two very different but well studied and heavily used solid lubricants known for exceptional tribological characteristics. The tools used for the study included in-situ optical microscopy (morphology), interferometry (topography), and lateral force microscopy (tribology). A significant portion of the work was the development of a lateral force microscopy (LFM) calibration technique to enable quantitative and in-situ LFM measurements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 08, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA588897
Entities
People
- David Burris
Organizations
- University of Delaware