Gallium useful bearing lubricant in high-vaccum environment

Solid gallium is used as a lubricant on bearings made of compatible materials. Such lubricants perform well in a high vacuum and under low temperature

The nature of surfaces and their influence in wear mechanisms

The wear of materials is strongly dependent upon the nature of the solid surfaces in contact, their properties and the nature of their films. Oxide films, orientation, crystal transformations, adhesive binding, crystal structure, hardness, and the presence of alloying agents are all shown to affect one or more of the forms of wear. The three most common forms of wear, adhesive, abrasive, and corrosive, are discussed in terms of the way each is affected by various material properties. Results presented indicate how wear can be optimized by concern for properties of materials

Auger spectroscopy analysis of lubrication with zinc dialkyldithiophosphate of several metal combinations in sliding contact

Sliding friction experiments were conducted with aluminum and other riders rubbing on disks of various elemental metals in the presence of a thin film of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDP). Auger emission spectroscopy was used to in situ monitor the changes in surface chemistry with rubbing under various loads. The metal disks examined included iron, titanium, rhodium, tungsten, molybdenum, and copper. For equivalent films of ZDP the film is a more effective lubricant for some metals than it is for others. The important active element in the compound varies with the metal lubricated and is a function of metal chemistry. The zinc in the ZDP is susceptible to electron beam induced desorption

Interaction of some extreme-pressure type lubricating compounds with an iron surface

An iron surface was exposed to the extreme-pressure type lubricant benzyl chloride, dichlorophenyl phosphine, dichlorophenyl phosphine sulfide, ophenyl phosphine oxide. Iron, in the sputter-cleaned state, was exposed to these materials statically and during dynamic friction experiments. With benzyl chloride only chlorine adsorbed to the surface, and with dichlorophenyl phosphine no adsorption occurred, while the addition of sulfur to that same molecular structure resulted in the promotion of carbon and chlorine adsorption. substitution of oxygen for sulfur in the dichlorobenzyl phosphine molecule resulted in carbon, chlorine, and oxygen adsorption. With none of the phosphorus containing molecules was phosphorus detected on the surface. Sliding in an atmosphere of benzyl chloride promoted adsorption of chlorine to the iron surface. Increases in load resulted in a decrease in the surface concentration of iron chloride

Metal-dielectric interactions

Metal direlectric surface interactions and dielectric films on metal substrates were investigated. Since interfacial interaction depends so heavily on the nature of the surfaces, analytical surface tools such as Auger emission spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and field ion microscopy were used to assist in surface and interfacial characterization. The results indicate that with metals contacting certain glasses in the clean state interfacial, bonding produces fractures in the glasses while when a film such as water is present, fractures occur in the metal near the interface. Friction forces were used to measure the interfacial bond strengths. Studies with metals contacting polymers using field ion microscopy revealed that strong bonding forces could develop being between a metal and polymer surface with polymer transferring to the metal surface in various ways depending upon the forces applied to the surface in contact. With the deposition of refractory carbides, silicides and borides onto metal and alloy substrates the presence of oxides at the interface or active gases in the deposition plasma were shown to alter interfacial properties and chemistry. Auger ion depth profile analysis indicated the chemical composition at the interface and this could be related to the mechanical, friction, and wear behavior of the coating

Friction behavior of members of the platinum metals group with gold

The adhesion and friction behavior of the platinum metals group was examined with clean surfaces and surfaces selectively contaminated with oxygen, vinyl chloride (C2H3Cl), and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH). A pin or disk specimen configuration was used with the pin being a single crystal of gold of the (111) orientation and with the platinum metal disks also being single crystals of the (111) or (0001) orientation. Loads applied ranged from 1 to 10 g and a sliding velocity of 0.7 mm/min was employed. Results indicate adhesion and transfer of gold to all of the platinum metals. Despite this observation friction differences existed among the metals in the group. These differences are related to surface chemical activity. Adsorption of various friction reducing species was selective. With some adsorbates present strong adhesive forces between metals were still observed

Effect of oxygen, methyl mercaptan, and methyl chloride on friction behavior of copper-iron contacts

Sliding friction experiments were conducted with an iron rider on a copper disk and a copper rider on an iron disk. The sputter cleaned iron and copper disk surfaces were saturated with oxygen, methyl mercaptan, and methyl chloride at atmospheric pressure. Auger emission spectroscopy was used to monitor the surfaces. Lower friction was obtained in all experiments with the copper rider sliding on the iron disk than when the couple was reversed. For both iron and copper disks, methyl mercaptan gave the best surface coverage and was most effective in reducing friction. For both iron and copper disks, methyl chloride was the least effective in reducing friction. With sliding, copper transferred to iron and iron to copper

Definition and effect of chemical properties of surfaces in friction, wear, and lubrication

Chemical properties relative to their role in adhesion, friction, wear and lubrication discussed in this paper will include: (1) adsorption, both physical and chemical; (2) orientation of the solid as well as the lubricant; (3) surface energy; (4) surface segregation; (5) surface versus bulk metallurgical effects; (6) electronic nature of the surface; and (7) bonding mechanisms

Adhesion, friction and Auger spectroscopy analysis of a commercial cobalt base aircraft turbine shroud alloy

A commercially used cast cobalt base alloy was investigated as a turbine shroud material which revealed a surface enriched with tungsten and carbon suggesting a surface layer of tungsten carbide. Adhesion and friction of this segregated surface layer are higher than for the bulk cobalt base alloy composition. Auger spectroscopy analysis of the segregation of tungsten in the alloy indicates that it occurs between 850 and 1000 C

Application of modern surface analytical tools in the investigation of surface deterioration processes

Surface profilometry and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to study changes in the surface of polymers when eroded. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and depth profile analysis indicate the corrosion of metal and ceramic surfaces and reveal the diffusion of certain species into the surface to produce a change in mechanical properties. Ion implantation, nitriding and plating and their effects on the surface are characterized. Auger spectroscopy analysis identified morphological properties of coatings applied to surfaces by sputter deposition