Zinc oxythiomolybdate (ZnMoO2S2) powder as a solid lubricant for high-temperature rolling contact applications

Conventional liquid lubricants being used in today's gas turbine engines will not be able to operate effectively in the hostile bearing environments expected in future turbine engines. The expected high operating temperatures (500–800°C) mandate new and innovative lubrication schemes to achieve success. Recent studies have demonstrated that a new class of solid lubricants, the complex chalcogenides or metal ocythiomolybdates, have good potential for high temperature lubrication. This paper describes the friction, wear and rolling contact endurance of three high-temperature bearing materials using a zinc oxythiomolybdate (ZnMoO₂S₂) powder lubricant. Rolling contact tests were conducted using VIM-VAR M50, micromelt T15 tool steels and silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) at temperatures ranging from 23°C to 649°C, using a modified ball-on-rod type rolling-contact fatigue tester. Significant improvements in friction, endurance and wear were observed at all test temperatures, and with all three materials evaluated, when ZnMoO₂S₂ was used as a lubricant. Overall, silicon nitride exhibited the best frictional and antiwear performance. The lubricant powder exhibited the best tribological performance with T15 and M50 specimens between 177°C and 316°C. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDAX) of wear tracks showed the presence of iron (Fe) on the Si₃N₄ specimens as well as the presence of zinc (Zn) on both the T15 and the M50 specimens.     

Effects of solid lubricants in backward extrusion

In the present paper, some solid lubricants were tested in backward extrusion friction tests with flat-headed punches using aluminium at room temperature. The results showed that anti-seizure ability was improved when wax was added to the solid lubricant samples. In addition, a water-based graphite lubricant and an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) lubricant were tested using aluminium workpieces heated to 500°C. The lubricity of the UHMW-PE lubricant was found to be superior to that of the graphite lubricant.     

Evaluation of Hot Pressed Silicon Nitride as a Rolling Bearing Material

A series of tests has been conducted to evaluate the suitability of silicon nitride as a bearing material for rolling contact applications. The ability of silicon nitride to be lubricated by some conventional lubricants was found to be satisfactory. This was determined by wettability studies, lubricant film thickness and traction coefficient measurements on the optical EHD rig and friction coefficient measurements by the pin-on-disk method. The abrasive wear coefficient, measured on a lopping machine using 600 grit SiC abrasive, was found to be high compared to other ceramics. It was also dependent on the composition of the silicon nitride. Comparative rolling contact fatigue tests on steel and silicon nitride flat washers were conducted using steel rollers and balls. A high wear rate leading to grooving in the rolling track on silicon nitride was observed. The spalling resistance of silicon nitride was found to be higher than that of steel under the test conditions used. Surface interactions in the Si₃N₄-M50 steel contacts, detrimental to the life of the steel rolling elements, were recognized. Attempts were made to reduce the severity of these interactions and prolong the life of bearings containing ceramic elements.     

A study on the tribological characteristics of graphite nano lubricants

Many researchers have tried to improve the tribological characteristics of lubricants to decrease friction coefficients and wear rates. One approach is simply the use of additives in the base lubricant to change its properties. Recently, nanoparticles have emerged as a new kind of additive because of their size, shape and other properties. A nano lubricant is a new kind of engineering lubricant made of nanoparticles, dispersant, and base lubricant. In this study, graphite nanoparticles were used to fabricate nano lubricants with enhanced tribological properties and lubrication characteristics. The base lubricant used was industrial gear oil, which has a kinematic viscosity of 220 cSt at 40°C. To investigate the physical and tribological properties of nano lubricants, friction coefficients and temperatures were measured by a disk-on-disk tribotester. The surfaces of the fixed plates were observed by a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope to analyze the characteristics of the friction surfaces. The results show that when comparing fixed plates coated with raw and nano lubricants, the plate coated with a nano lubricant containing graphite nanoparticles had a lower friction coefficient and less wear. These results indicate that graphite nanoparticle additives improve the lubrication properties of regular lubricants.     

Advanced lubricants for heat engines

An advanced liquid lubricant for heat engines has been developed and tested successfully in a prototype engine. The lubricant possesses superior oxidation stability and high temperature stability. With the advent of new engine designs, stability should be measured in terms of both the temperature and the time for which the lubricant is subjected to it. This lubricant is designed to provide friction and wear protection for three to five minutes at 425°C (800°F) at the ring zone and maintains stability at an oil sump temperature of 171°C. The lubricant has been evaluated by the Cummins Engine Company. Out of a field of several dozen lubricants, six lubricants were selected for a prototype 200 h endurance tests. The NIST lubricant was one of the two lubricants that successfully finished the endurance testing. This paper provides an overview of the key lubricant design considerations, including oxidation and thermal stability, volatility, and deposit control, the prototype engine test conditions and the results.     

有机粘结固体润滑剂涂层砂轮磨削性能研究

采用有机粘结固体润滑剂（六方氮化硼和石墨）制备的涂层砂轮对钛合金进行了干磨削试验,研究了有机粘结固体润滑剂涂层砂轮在不同磨削工艺参数下对钛合金的磨削温度和工件表面质量的影响规律。试验结果表明,所制备的有机粘结固体润滑剂涂层砂轮干磨削钛合金工件时,磨削温度比无润滑剂涂层砂轮干磨削钛合金时下降11%~40%,工件表层显微组织未见明显变化。     

Effect of lubrication and green-compact shape on mechanical properties of mechanically alloyed Zn-22wt%Al powders during hot extrusion of spur gears

We investigated the extrusion behavior of mechanically alloyed Zn-22wt%Al powders with different lubricants and green-compact shapes. The mechanical alloying of powder particles was performed by planetary ball milling for 4 h, 8 h, 16 h, 32 h, and 64 h. The mechanical properties of these powders, as compacted and sintered cylindrical preforms, were estimated by uniaxial compression tests. The alloyed powder with an average particle size of 10 μm obtained after milling for 32 h had the highest compressive strength (288 MPa). Extrusions of miniature spur gears with pitch circles of 1.8 mm using the alloyed powder were carried out at different extrusion temperatures. An extrusion temperature of 310°C resulted in the highest Vickers hardness without surface defects when alloyed powder milled for 32 h was used. To investigate the effect of green-compact shape and lubricant on the dimensional accuracy and cracking regions during the first stage of hot extrusion, extrusion experiments with conical- or cylinder-type green compact shapes and BN spray or a graphite lubricant were performed at an extrusion temperature of 310°C. The results showed that the extrusion of spur gears by using the conical-shaped billet and graphite lubricant resulted in a low extrusion load, good surface roughness, a short cracking region during the first stage, and high dimensional accuracy.     

Tribological Properties of Water Glass Lubricant for Hot Metalworking

Tribological properties of water glass (sodium silicate aqueous solution) with graphite powders, a lubricant for hot metalworking, were studied by means of pin-on-disk type tribotesting at a wide variety of temperature ranges. The lubricant is a water suspension consisting of water glass with graphite powders at room temperature. It becomes solid or a suspension state consisting of solid or liquid glass with the graphite powders owing to evaporation of the water inside. The frictional behavior of the lubricant over 100°C was strongly affected by the state of the glass, which is a factor of temperature, and was categorized into the following three regions in accordance with the state of the glass: solid film lubrication by the powder glass and the graphite (Region I), fluid film lubrication by the viscous liquid glass (Region II), and fluid film lubrication by the low-viscosity liquid glass and solid film lubrication by the graphite (Region III). The lowest friction coefficient was obtained in Region III.     

Miscibility and stability of synthetic lubricants with HFC refrigerants

The phase-out of CFC production and further regulations on HCFC are required because of their association with the depletion of stratospheric ozone. HFCs and their mixtures have evolved as long-term replacements for CFCs and HCFCs. For air conditioning and refrigeration systems, new synthetic lubricants having miscibility with HFC refrigerants, similar to that of mineral oils with CFCs, have been developed. Data on the miscibility ofR-32/125 and R-125/143a with polyol ester lubricants are presented in this paper. In the temperature range of interest (−40°C to 60°C), we observed the upper immiscible region, lower immiscible region, as well as the coalescence of the two regions, for polyol ester lubricants with these HFC refrigerant mixtures. HFC-143a is least miscible among the three pure HFC refrigerants. The stability of R-32/125 and R-125/143a with dry polyol ester lubricants is very good at 204° C. With high moisture content, hydrolysis of the lubricant occurs at high temperatures. The onset of significant hydrolysis of lubricant (B) takes place between 175°C and 200°C. Care must be exercised to maintain the dryness of polyol ester lubricants and refrigeration systems to prevent this occurring.     

Tribological Characteristics of Calophyllum inophyllum–Based TMP (Trimethylolpropane) Ester as Energy-Saving and Biodegradable Lubricant

The purpose of this research is an experimental study of Calophyllum inophyllum (CI)-based trymethylolpropane (TMP) ester as an energy-saving and biodegradable lubricant and compare it with commercial lubricant and paraffin mineral oil using a four-ball tribometer. CI-based TMP ester is a renewable lubricant that is nonedible, biodegradable, and nontoxic and has net zero greenhouse gases. The TMP ester was produced from CI oil, which has high lubricity properties such as higher density, higher viscosity at both 40°C and 100°C and higher viscosity index (VI). Experiments were conducted during 3,600 s with constant load of 40 kg and constant sliding speed of 1,200 rpm at temperatures of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100°C for all three types of lubricant. The results show that CI TMP ester had the lowest coefficient of friction (COF) as well as lower consumption of energy at all test temperatures, but the worn surface roughness average (R_a) and wear scar diameter were higher compared to paraffin mineral oil and commercial lubricant. Before 80°C, CI TMP ester actually has a higher flash temperature parameter (FTP) than paraffin mineral oil and as the temperature increases, the FTP of TMP ester decreases. The worn surfaces of the stationary balls were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and results show that CI TMP ester has the highest wear compared to paraffin mineral oil and lowest wear compared to commercial lubricant. However, CI TMP ester is environmentally desired, competitive to commercial lubricant, and its use should be encouraged.     

Hot pressed silicon nitride as a rolling bearing material—a preliminary assessment

A simple, accelerated service-simulation test has been used to compare hotpressed silicon nitride in a preliminary manner with other materials under conditions of heavily loaded, lubricated, unlubricated and elevated temperature rolling contact. Under unlubricated ambient temperature conditions, hot-pressed silicon nitride was the best commercially available wear resistant material tested. Use of a solid lubricant eliminated the wear experienced at elevated temperature. Hot-pressed silicon nitride was not an effective rolling bearing material under heavily loaded lubricated conditions.     

Pressure viscosity coefficients and traction properties of synthetic lubricants for wind turbine gear systems

Synthetic lubricants are increasingly used to provide equipment reliability for wind turbine gear boxes. The majority of synthetic lubricants used today are based on polyalphaolefins. In gear systems where contact pressures are high, the pressure viscosity coefficient and traction values of the lubricant are important fundamental properties. A comparison of these properties for a wind turbine lubricant based on a polyalphaolefin and two lubricants based on polyalkylene glycols has been undertaken. Pressure viscosity coefficients were calculated from viscosity measurements made using an ultra‐high pressure falling needle viscometer at pressures up to 50 000 psi. Significant differences in properties were observed with both polyalkylene glycol lubricants showing lower pressure viscosity coefficients and much lower traction values. A calculation of the film thickness values in the Hertzian contact zone suggests that polyalkylene glycol lubricants may provide elastohydrodynamic films that are approximately 25% thicker than polyalphaolefin lubricants. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rolling Contact Testing of Vapor Phase Lubricants—Part II: System Performance Evaluation

The relative effects of several vapor lubrication parameters on bearing performance were examined using a ball-on-rod tester. Lubricants included in the evaluation were a tertiary-butylphenyl phosphate (TBPP), a 2 cSt polyalphaolefin blended with 15 percent TBPP (PAO+), the TBPP blended with 33 percent tributyl phosphate (TBPP+), a cyclophosphazine (X-1P), a polyphenylether (5P4E), and a perfluoroalkylether (Z). Parameters included in the study were bearing temperature, vapor concentration, and vapor temperature. Additionally, a solid lubricant coating was included to improve the bearing performance under cold-start conditions. The lubricants containing phosphorus demonstrated the best high temperature performance. The TBPP lubricant failed shortly after test at 650°C., while the X-1P lubricant performed satisfactorily over an eight-hour period at 650°C. The TBPP+ lubricant demonstrated the widest temperature range capability, with 600°C operation and a projected pump-ability point of–-45°C. Lubricant concentration was the most significant system parameter affecting bearing friction and wear.     

Friction and Wear Behaviors of Ni-based Composites Containing Graphite/Ag2MoO4 Lubricants

In order to improve the tribological properties of Ni-based composites, novel adaptive Ni-based composites containing multiple lubricants were prepared via a mechanical alloying and hot-press sintering technique. The phase constituents and microstructure of the composites were characterized and the tribological properties were evaluated from room temperature to 700 °C. The results showed that the Ag₂MoO₄ phase decomposed and new phases of Mo₂C, Ag, and MoO₃ formed in the sintered composites, which can be attributed to the solid state reaction of silver molybdate lubricant during the sintering process. The wear test results indicated that the Ni-based composites containing graphite and silver molybdate lubricants exhibited superior tribological properties at ambient and high temperatures. Subsequently, the Raman results demonstrated that the composition of the tribo-layers on the worn surface of the Ni-based composites was varied with increasing temperature. Combined with the wear test results, it can be proposed that the improvement of tribological properties is due to the synergistic lubricating action of silver molybdate, iron oxide, and nickel oxide. Furthermore, Raman results of the composite containing silver molybdate and silver/molybdenum trioxide lubricants revealed that the silver molybdate lubricant can reproduce easily by the direct reaction between molybdenum trioxide and silver in the agglomerate state.     

Self-assembled monolayer protective films for hybrid sliding contacts

Abstract

Silicon nitride as an energy efficient material is replacing conventional steels for new generation engineering components such as bearings, cutting tools, electronics and engine parts in automotive, aerospace and wind industries. Compared with steel bearings, silicon nitride bearings can be operated at much higher temperatures and speeds with >60% weight reduction and up to 80% friction reduction. These are all due to its unique material properties, including high wear and corrosion resistance, low density and heat generation. Current lubrication solutions for hybrid contacts, where silicon nitride balls and steel races are used, are mostly relying on the protection film formed on the metal surfaces. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been found very useful in modifying surfaces, especially for microelectromechanical system and nanoscale applications, e.g. atomic force microscopy tips, etc. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of forming a SAM protection film on industrial grade bearing material silicon nitride to reduce the friction for the oil lubricated hybrid contacts. Four silanes with different functional head groups, including octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), octyltrichlorosilane, chlorodimethyloctadecylsilane and octadecyltrimethoxysilane, were initially investigated to form SAMs on industrial grade silicon nitride surfaces. The effects of concentration and immersion time of the silanes on the formation of SAMs on the silicon nitride surface were evaluated using contact angle measurements. The preliminary results show that the wetting properties of the silicon nitride surface can be effectively modified by the formation of SAMs from the silane solutions. OTS can form an order and compact SAM on the silicon nitride surfaces within 2 min at the concentration of 2··5 mM in decane solution, while the other three alkylsilanes can also effectively modify silicon nitride surfaces given sufficient immersion time, e.g. over 1 h. Tribological tests were subsequently carried out on a ball on disc rig where a steel ball and a silicon nitride disc were used. The effect of the formation of alkylsilane SAMs on the friction between the sliding contacts has been evaluated in two different methods. The first method was to test preformed SAM films under dry conditions, and the second was to premix one of the surfactants with Shell Vitrea ISO 32 mineral base oil and then spray the mixture to the contacts during the ball on disc testing. The test results show that an average of over 40 and 30% friction reduction was achieved for the hybrid contact when lubricated with the base oil mixed with OTS (>2··5 mM) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane (5 mM) respectively compared with that of the sliding contact lubricated by the base oil only. Since OTS may produce corrosive byproducts during SAM formation, octadecyltrimethoxysilane may be a more suitable additive for the hybrid contacts.     

Traction Characteristics of High-Temperature Powder-Lubricated Ceramics (Si3N4/αSiC)

As part of a high-temperature, dry-lubricated bearing technology and lubricant system development program, a high-speed, high-temperature disk-on-disk tribometer was utilized and a matrix of traction data covering a range of load, speed and temperature was obtained. The influence of dry powder lubricants, TiO₂ and MoS₂, on the traction coefficients between two ceramic materials, Si₃N₄ and SiC, was investigated. The most important results of this investigation are characteristic curves for the traction coefficient vs. the slide/roll ratio with dry powders which are reminiscent of fluids, and the observation of dry powder lubricants' lower traction coefficients and wear. Measured tractions are found to be a strong function of powder lubricant type and values decrease moderately with slide-to-roll ratio and load. The data, show a weak sensitivity to temperature.     

High-Temperature Vapor Phase Lubrication Using Carbonaceous Gases

Following the pioneering work of Prof. James Lauer, the ability to provide continuous solid lubrication through vapor phase delivery of carbonaceous gases has been successfully demonstrated on a pin-on-disk contact at the temperatures of 650 °C. Results from tribological experiments under 2 N normal load and 50 mm/s sliding speed showed an over 20× reduction in friction coefficient. The samples were silicon nitride (pin) versus CMSX-4 (disk) and the experiments when run in a nitrogen environment with acetylene admixtures. Two repeat experiments gave average friction coefficients of μ = 0.03 and μ = 0.02. The process was robust and provided low friction for the entire 500 m of sliding. Using focused ion-beam milling, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and confocal Raman spectroscopy, the resulting solid lubricant was found to be oriented microcrystalline graphite.     

Solid Film Lubrication at High Temperature

The behavior of several solid film lubricants has been experimentally established as a function of temperature. These films are formed of a suspension of lubricant particles (graphite, molybdenum disulfide) in a thermosetting resin baked onto a hard surface. The test consists of heating such a layer and continually observing the friction coefficient until failure. Sliding conditions of high unit loading and low rubbing velocity were chosen to provide a comparison between the films. They were evaluated as to the highest temperature for which the friction coefficient remained low and subsequently as to the number of load cycles sustained at temperature before an abrupt increase in friction. Results for all films were similar in that failure was caused by a breakdown of the binder rather than the lubricating particles and that the minimum friction coefficient (～ 0.03) was observed just before the film failure at temperatures as high as 1200° F.     

The Effect of Stress and TiC Coated Balls on Lifetime of a Perfluoropolyalkylether Using a Vacuum Rolling Contact Tribometer

A vacuum spiral orbit tribometer (SOT) was used to determine the relative lifetimes of a branched perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPAE) on 440C stainless steel. The effect of varying the mean Hertzian stress (0.75, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 GPa) and the use of TiC coated balls on lubricant lifetime was studied. Other conditions included: ～100 rpm, ～50 μg of lubricant, an initial vacuum level of < 1.3 × 10^?6 Pa (< 1.0 × 10^?8 Torr), and room temperature (～23 °C). Increasing the mean Hertzian stress from 0.75 to 2.0 GPa results in an exponential decrease in lubricant lifetime for both material combinations. However, substituting a TiC ball for the 440C ball quadrupled lifetime at low stress levels (0.75 and 1.0 GPa) and doubled life at higher stresses (1.5 and 2.0 GPa). The reduced reactivity of the TiC surface with the PFPAE lubricant is considered to be the reason for this enhancement. Decreasing lifetime with increasing stress levels correlated well with energy dissipation calculations.     

Tribological Properties of Self-Lubricating Polymer–Steel Laminated Composites

Self-lubricating polymer–steel laminated composites (SLC) consisting of matrix zones and filled zones were fabricated by a laminating–bonding process. The matrix zones were silicon steel sheets and the filled zones were polymer matrix filled with MoS₂ and graphite, respectively. The control specimen was prepared by spraying a polymer composite coating on a GCr15 disc. The tribological properties of SLC were investigated using a ball-on-disc tribometer under different loads and frequencies. Compared to the control specimen, the friction coefficient and wear rate of SLC was reduced by 57% and threefold at 4 N and 6 Hz, respectively. In addition, the friction coefficient of SLC was low and stable under low reciprocating frequency, and it was high and fluctuating under high reciprocating frequency. In addition, the wear rate increased with increasing applied load and reciprocating frequency. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that the lubricating mechanism of SLC was that solid lubricants embedded in filled zones expanded and smeared a layer of transfer film on the sliding path to lubricate the surface. The thermal expansion of solid lubricants was simulated using ANSYS software with thermal-stress coupling. The simulation results showed the maximum temperature of the filled zones was 130°C, and the maximum normal displacement of solid lubricants was approximately 10 μm. This confirmed that the solid lubricants expanded effectively by the aid of frictional heat.