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Friction and Wear Properties of Selected Solid Lubricating FilmsTo evaluate commercially developed dry solid film lubricants for aerospace bearing applications, an investigation was conducted to examine the friction and wear behavior of magnetron-sputtered diamondlike carbon (MS DLC) and plasma-assisted, chemical-vapor-deposited diamondlike carbon (PACVD DLC) films in sliding contact with 6-mm-diameter American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 440C stainless steel balls. Unidirectional sliding friction experiments were conducted with a load of 5.9 N (600 g), a mean Hertzian contact pressure of 0.79 GPa (maximum Hertzian contact pressure of L-2 GPa), and a sliding velocity of 0.2 m/s. The experiments were conducted at room temperature in three environments: ultrahigh vacuum (vacuum pressure, 7x10(exp -7) Pa), humid air (relative humidity, approx.20 percent), and dry nitrogen (relative humidity, <1 percent). The resultant films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and surface profilometry. Marked differences in the friction and wear of the DLC films investigated herein resulted from the environmental conditions. The main criteria for judging the performance of the DLC films were coefficient of friction and wear rate, which had to be less than 0.3 and on the order of 10(exp -6) cu mm/N-m or less, respectively. MS DLC films and PACVD DLC films met the criteria in humid air and dry nitrogen but failed in ultrahigh vacuum, where the coefficients of friction were greater than the criterion, 0.3. In sliding contact with 440C stainless steel balls in all three environments the PACVD DLC films exhibited better tribological performance (i.e., lower friction and wear) than the MS DLC films. All sliding involved adhesive transfer of wear materials: transfer of DLC wear debris to the counterpart 440C stainless steel and transfer of 440C stainless steel wear debris to the counterpart DLC film.
Document ID
20000082019
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Miyoshi, Kazuhisa (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Iwaki, Masanori (Tsukuba Space Center Ibaraki, Japan)
Gotoh, Kenichi (Tsukuba Space Center Ibaraki, Japan)
Obara, Shingo (Tsukuba Space Center Ibaraki, Japan)
Imagawa, Kichiro (Tsukuba Space Center Ibaraki, Japan)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 2000
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:209088/PT3
E-12214/PT3
NASA/TM-2000-209088/PT3
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 297-60-00
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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