Fundamental Studies in Liquid Lubrication

The behavior of liquid lubricants operating in the boundary lubrication regime is being studied with the new NASA GRC Spiral Orbit Tribometer. Lubricants for service in vacuum are studied at pressures down to 2 x 10-9 Torr. The tribodegradation of these lubricants leads to a finite life of the lubricant charge and this allows the ranking of the lubricant lifetimes. The products generated by the degradation of the lubricant under tribocontact are evolved into the vacuum ambient and are identified with a quadrupole gas analyzer. Solid degradation products on the contact specimens are examined with infrared and Raman microspectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Liquid lubricants for service in either air or selected gas ambients at atmospheric pressure will also be studied at elevated temperature for application to advanced aeronautical propulsion systems.

Image of Spiral Orbit Tribometer, with vacuum chamber window removed to show transducer and ball between parallel disks, one of which rotates. Click for larger version (145k gif)

Contact: Dr. Stephen V. Pepper, 216.433.6061

 

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