In vacuuo tribological investigations of metal, ceramic and hybrid interfaces for high-speed spacecraft bearing applications

摘要: Abstract New bearing technologies are being developed for use in space systems to meet future demands including longer lifetimes, higher speeds and affordability. Specifically, improvements necessary high speed control momentum gyroscopes as longterm operation can lead a fluid starved condition through evaporation and/or creep. Over the course of lifetime, will progress from elastrohydrodynamic mixed boundary layer regimes that result failure. In order understand this failure scenario, paper discusses development UHV tribometer test methodology simulate on laboratory scale vacuum. Results shown metal-on-metal, hybrid (metal-ceramic) ceramic material pairs using multialkylated cyclopentane liquid lubricant. These results show provide approximately three orders magnitude life than both other reduction decomposition. Three regions were noted tests run associated with decreasing film thickness increasing Ranking within each system be understood based contact angle data which gives insight into relative thickness.