The development of advanced solid lubricants is of considerable importance to space tribology. The most common solid lubricant coatings today are based on MoS2, lead or PTFE. However, none of these coatings can simultaneously fulfill all specifications, with regard to friction and wear, under ambient atmosphere and in vacuum. Consequently research is currently being aimed at further improvements in advanced solid lubricant coatings. One approach is to optimize Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coatings to meet the specifications. In this study, the feasibility of highly hydrogenated DLC coatings (∼ 50 at% hydrogen) for solid lubricant applications is assessed. The coatings were deposited on AISI 52100 steel substrates and tested in ball-on-disc tribometers in air, vacuum and dry nitrogen environments. It was found that the test environment has the most decisive effect on both friction and wear rate, while these parameters are only slightly affected by varying the applied load under a given atmosphere. It was concluded that highly hydrogenated DLC coatings are capable of yielding ultra-low friction values in vacuum (μ = 0.008). The average friction coefficient range obtained in humid air, dry nitrogen and vacuum for the range of applied loads were respectively 0.22 to 0.27, 0.02 to 0.03, and 0.007 to 0.013. Coating lifetime was over 100 000 cycles for the entire load range tested in air and nitrogen, but was affected by the applied load as far as tests in vacuum are considered. The specific wear rate was lower than 1×10–5 mm3 N-1 m-1 under all test conditions, which was considered favourable.
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World Tribology Congress III
September 12–16, 2005
Washington, D.C., USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Tribology Division
ISBN:
0-7918-4202-9
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Development of Highly Hydrogenated DLC Coatings for Solid Lubricant Applications in Space Available to Purchase
A. Vanhulsel,
A. Vanhulsel
Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
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R. Jacobs,
R. Jacobs
Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
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K. Van Acker,
K. Van Acker
Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
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E. Roberts,
E. Roberts
AEA Technology, Warrington, Cheshire, UK
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F. Velasco,
F. Velasco
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK
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I. Sherrington,
I. Sherrington
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK
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L. Gaillard
L. Gaillard
European Space Agency, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
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A. Vanhulsel
Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
R. Jacobs
Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
K. Van Acker
Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
E. Roberts
AEA Technology, Warrington, Cheshire, UK
F. Velasco
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK
I. Sherrington
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK
L. Gaillard
European Space Agency, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Paper No:
WTC2005-63450, pp. 915-916; 2 pages
Published Online:
November 17, 2008
Citation
Vanhulsel, A, Jacobs, R, Van Acker, K, Roberts, E, Velasco, F, Sherrington, I, & Gaillard, L. "Development of Highly Hydrogenated DLC Coatings for Solid Lubricant Applications in Space." Proceedings of the World Tribology Congress III. World Tribology Congress III, Volume 2. Washington, D.C., USA. September 12–16, 2005. pp. 915-916. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/WTC2005-63450
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