Solid Lubricating Films for Extreme Environments

Abstract

AbstractAdvances in solid lubricating films for vacuum and high temperature applications are reviewed. Traditional lubricants (e.g. graphite and dichalcogenides) are being improved and new lubricating materials (e.g. amorphous carbons) are being discovered with the aid of recent developments in deposition processes and surface analytical methods. Ion bombardmenttreatments have increased film adhesion, lowered friction coefficients and enhanced the wearlife of MoS2films, as well as created new forms of lubricating carbons (amorphous, polymeric and diamond-like). Composite films and multilayer coating treatments are providing extra protection for surface and films against environmental degradation. Ultralow friction coefficients (<0.01) have been achieved with MoS 2 as well as diamond-like carbon films. Material selection, in some cases (e.g. thin metal films), can nowbe made basedon scientific principles, although many tribomaterials are still being developed by trialand error methods.