Spiral Orbit Tribometry

Abstract

The coefficients of friction and relative degradation rates of three lubricants run in the boundary regime in vacuum are evaluated in a Spiral Orbit Tribometer. This tribometer subjected the lubricants to rolling contact conditions similar to those found in angular contact ball bearings. A multiply alkylated cyclopentane (MAC) hydrocarbon lubricant suffered degradation at a rate almost two orders of magnitude less than the degradation rate of two perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPE) lubricants