Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tribological Coatings for Open Space

  • Published:
Journal of Friction and Wear Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract—

This paper presents the results of tests of EPAN coatings, a composite material based on carbon–carbon fibers. It uses fine molybdenum disulfide as the main lubricant and for binders, phenol, peroxide, and silicone resins. The tests were carried out on microarc oxidation (MAO) coatings. For comparison, the tribological characteristics of EPAN under friction on steels, as well as molybdenum disulfide composites are given. The friction coefficients of EPAN coatings on MAO coatings according to the “shaft–bushing” scheme do not exceed 0.05 at pressures of 10–20 kg/cm2 and shaft rotation speeds from 130 to 600 rpm. The advantage of such combinations of materials is the use of a light alloy, aluminum with MAO coating, for the counterbody to the EPAN coatings, which is important for space products. The creation and testing of solid lubricating coatings for modern space technology is a task of extreme importance, because in many developments of space products, low-temperature plastic lubricants continue to be used, which are operable up to subzero temperatures of –90 to –110°C. Such solutions require the use of thermal insulation and heating for mobile interfaces and friction units of machines, mechanisms, and devices. The result is a serious complication of structures and an increase in their weight. The tests of EPAN coatings on MAO coatings carried out in the work open new possibilities in the combination of materials for space technology. Having a coefficient of friction of 0.05 and high wear resistance, they allow you to create movable joints, first of all, sliding bearings, for operation on Earth sensing satellites, as well as mechanisms on the Moon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.

REFERENCES

  1. Bronovets, M.A., Tribotechnical characteristics of solid lubricating coatings, J. Frict. Wear, 2023, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 224–228. https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068366623040037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Prozhega, M.V., Reshchikov, E.O., and Konstantinov, E.O., Studies of antifriction disulfide molybdenum coatings in extreme operation conditions, Tezisy dokladov Mezhdunarodnoi nauchno-tekhnicheskoi konferentsii Polimernye kompozity i tribologiya (Proc. Int. Sci.-Tech. Conf. on Polymer Composite and Tribology), Gomel, Belarus: 2022, p. 95.

  3. Yang, J.C. and de Groh, K.K., Materials issues in the space environment, MRS bulletin, 2010, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 12–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0883769400100004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bronovets, M.A., Open space: Tribology problems and test tasks, Sb. statei mezhdunarod-noi nauchnoi konferentsii. Mekhanika i tribologiya transportnykh sistem (MekhTriboTrans−2021) (Coll. of Sci. Papers of Int. Sci. Conf.: Mechanics and Tribology of Transport Systems (MekhTriboTrans−2021)), Rostov-on-Don: Rostovskii Gos. Univ. Putei Soobshcheniya, 2021, pp. 35–40. https://doi.org/10.46973/978-5-907295-52-0_2021_35

  5. Wang, H., Xu, B., and Liu, J., Solid lubrication materials, Micro and Nano Sulfide Solid Lubrication, Berlin: Springer, 2012, pp. 1–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23102-5_1

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Krick, B.A. and Sawyer, W.G., Space tribometers: Design for exposed experiments on orbit, Tribol. Lett., 2011, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 303–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-010-9689-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bronovets, M.A., Solid lubricant coatings in space engineering, Sbornik “Tribologiya – mashinostroeniyu”, Trudy XIV Mezhdunarodnoi nauchno-tekhnicheskoi konferentsii, posvyashchennoi 100-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya A.P. Semenova (Coll. of Sci. Papers Tribology to Mechanical Engineering: Proc. 14th Int. Sci.-Tech. Conf. Dedicated to 100th Birthday of A.P. Semenov), Moscow: IMash RAN, 2022, pp. 64–67.

  8. Malyshev, V.N., Oil and gas steels surface hardening investigation by anodic plasma electrolytic treatment, Chem. Eng. Process.–Process Intensif., 2022, vol. 179, p. 109055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2022.109055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Materialy dlya uzlov sukhogo treniya, rabotayushchikh v vakuume. Spravochnik (Materials for Dry Friction Units Operating in Vacuum: Reference Book), Moscow: Mashinostroenie, 1991.

  10. Suminov, I.V., Belkin, P.N., Epel’fel’d, A.V., Lyudin, V.B., Krit, B.L., and Borisov, A.M., Plazmenno-elektroliticheskoe modifitsirovanie poverkhnosti metallov i splavov (Plasma-Electrolytic Modification of the Surface of Metals and Alloys), Moscow: Tekhnosfera, 2011.

Download references

Funding

The study was financially supported by Russian Science Foundation, project no. 22-49-02010.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Problems in Mechanics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119526, Moscow, Russia

    M. A. Bronovets

Authors
  1. M. A. Bronovets
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. A. Bronovets.

Ethics declarations

The authors of this work declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note.

Allerton Press remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bronovets, M.A. Tribological Coatings for Open Space. J. Frict. Wear 44, 362–366 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068366623060028

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068366623060028

Keywords:

Search

Navigation