A self-restoring lubrication system with an in situ and on-demand controllable lubrication method is required to improve reliability and to overcome unexpected tribological problems in space. A new type of lubrication method called 'tribo-coating', which forms a thin lubricious film (tribo-coating film)of In in nanometre-scale by vacuum deposition during sliding, is promising as a required lubrication method for future space systems. This method gives the unique advantage of excellent tribological performance of friction coefficient of <0.02 in sliding contacts and 0.002 in ball bearings. Pin-on-disc friction tests and scanning electron microscopy examinations were made. The pin and the disc were made of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and stainless steel (JIS SUS440C), respectively. Indium of 99.99% purity was selected as the best solid lubricant for the method. Its possibility as a self-restored lubrication system with in situ and on-demand control of lubrication for ball bearings in vacuum systems is clarified. Tribo-coating film formed during the tribo-coating process in sliding contact has a nanocomposite structure, in which the crystalline In of nano size is distributed in the matrix of amorphous structure, including of Si, O2, and Cr. Tribo-coating with micro evaporation source (MES) has high possibility of a self-restored lubrication system for the ball bearings, which is performed by a low electric power of 560 mW.
In situ and on-demand lubrication by tribo-coating for space applications
In situ- und Echtzeitschmierung mittels Triboschicht für Anwendungen in der Raumfahrttechnik
2008
9 Seiten, 24 Bilder, 16 Quellen
Article (Journal)
English
Bedienerfreundliches Tribo-System
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