Electrically Conductive Solid Powder Lubrication

Applications using electromagnetic induction such as railguns, motors, and generators, have always suffered from a lack of viable lubrication at the mating interfaces responsible for transferring current. Such a lubricant must maintain or enhance the contact resistance of the bare surfaces while reducing both friction and wear. In this project, the potential for electrically conductive powder lubricants is explored by combining copper powder with known powder lubricants. electrically conductive
PFTL Research Assistant(s):   Patrick S. M. Dougherty; Mikio David
Method(s) Employed:   High/low speed and load tribometry; in situ data acquisition, ex situ optical interferometry, solid lubricant pellet fabrication, in situ optical microscopy
Rig(s) and/or Software(s) Employed:   Bruker UMT-3, Zygo New-View 7300 optical Interferometer
Sponsor(s):   NSF GRFP Fellowship

Sample Results:

graph 1 diagram
graph 2 powders

 

Select PFTL References:

1.) Dougherty, P., Sunday, C., Higgs III, C.F. "Adaptive Solid Lubricant Transfer Films for Conductivity and Oxidation Control," Proceedings of: ASME/STLE International Joint Tribology Conference. Denver, CO, October, 7th 2012

2.) Dougherty, P., Marinack Jr., M.C., Sunday, C.M., Higgs III, C.F., "Shear-Induced Particle Size Segregation in Composite Transfer Films." Submitted for Review: Powder Technology, June, 2013