A dry lubricant coating in ceramic form consisting of 95 percent lead monoxide and 5 percent silicon dioxide withstood a temperature of 1200 deg F, with a bearing operating at various atmospheric pressures. From this testing, there was no galling or metal transfer of the bearing

Johnson, R. L.

Sliney, H. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

August 1964
	
Brief 64-10116 
.
	
NASA TECH BRIEF 
This NASA Tech Brief is issued by the Technology Utilization Division to acquaint 
industry with the technical content of an innovation derived from the space program. 
Lead Oxide Ceramic Makes Excellent 
High-Temperature Lubricant 
The problem: Conventional lubricants tend to 
break down in high-temperature applications. 
The solution: A dry lubricant in ceramic form 
made of 95 percent lead monoxide and 5 percent sili-
con dioxide. 
How it's done: A mixture of 95-percent lead mon-
oxide and 5-percent silicon dioxide is ground to a 
powder of about 200 mesh. The powder is then 
slurried in water to make it suitable for spraying-the 
consistency depending on the spray apparatus em-
ployed. The mixture is sprayed on the parts to be 
lubricated, such as the balls, cage, and race of a ball 
bearing, and the assembled bearing is fired in an elec-
tric resistance furnace at 1,650° F for 8 minutes. The 
spraying and firing are controlled to produce a 
smooth, coating approximately 0.001-inch thick. 
Notes: 
1. This dry lubricant coating withstood a temperature 
of 1,200° F, with the bearing operated at atmos-
pheric pressure in the following sequence: 44 hours 
at 6,000 rpm; 10 hours at 10,000 rpm; and approxi-
mately 1 hour at 23,000 rpm. Microscopic exami-
nation showed the bearing suffered no galling or 
metal transfer under these operating conditions. 
2. This lead monoxide-silica compound is now com-
mercially available and at least one prominent 
bearing manufacturer is an industrial user. 
3. For further information about this innovation in-
quiries may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Lewis Research Center 
21000 Brookpark Road 
Cleveland, Ohio, 44135 
Reference: B64-10116 
Patent status: NASA encourages commercial use
of this innovation. No patent action is contemplated. 
Source: H. E. Sliney and

R. L. Johnson
(Lewis-144) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States Govern-
ment, nor NASA, nor any person acting on behalf of NASA: A. Makes 
any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the 
accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information contained in
this document, or that the use of any information, apparatus, method, 
or process disclosed in this document may not infringe privately-owned 
rights; or B. Assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for 
damages resulting from the use of, any information, apparatus, method, 
or process disclosed in this document.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19640000033 2020-03-11T17:06:26+00:00Z


Lead oxide ceramic makes excellent high-temperature lubricant

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