Solid Lubricants
This article collection has been curated to highlight the active areas of research into solid lubricants. Mechanical properties: Lamellar type of solid lubricant such as graphite, molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) provide a lower shear strength during sliding and consequently reduce the friction and wear of the composites. Soft metal with multiple planes such as Au and Ag also able to provide lubrication within composite materials. While CaF2 and BaF2 which are examples of fluoride metals with thermal softening which able to lubricate at higher temperature application. Lubrication: The use of solid lubricants is an effective way to control friction and wear in applications where traditional lubricants such as oils and greases cannot be used. Applications: Employment of conventional lubricant oils has not been successful in severe environments, such as clean, high temperature and vacuum environments, of moving components of machines, there will be an increasing demand to employ solid lubricant films instead of conventional lubricant oils. One of the most common application areas for solid lubricant is in the aerospace sector where they see use within the turbopump bearings. Simulation: Tribological modelling can provide valuable insights into fundamental interactions and tribological behaviour for different solid lubricant layer compositions. Figure 1. Unit cell of hexagonal 2H-MoS2 which is commonly used in Solid Lubricant Coatings. Created using Diamond 4. Data from Schonfeld, B.; Huang, J. J.; Moss, S. C., Anisotropic mean-square displacements (MSD) in single crystals of 2H- and 3R-MoS2 Note: 2H polytype, this is the most common in nature, Acta Crystallographica, Section B, 39, 404-407 (1983).
Edited by
Thawhid Khan(Manchester Metropolitan University)