Abstract
TriboLAB is an experiment on space tribology that will be carried out at the EuTEF module of ESA Columbus Laboratory at the ISS. A Vacuum TriboLAB Model (VTM) has been designed and developed prior to the Flight Model (FM) to serve as a testing equipment and evaluate "on ground" tribological data of selected lubricants, comparing the results with those to be obtained at the environment of the ISS. The VTM of TriboLAB can perform ball bearing and pin-on-disc tests of lubricants. The characteristics and performance of this experimental equipment will be presented in this conference. This work reports on the performance of these solid lubricant films in the pin-on-disc section of VTM model. Tribological tests have been carried out under vacuum with the VTM using previously developed and tested solid lubricants. Thin films of MoS 2 alloyed with WC and produced by magnetron sputtering PVD have been used for these tests. The wear conditions at the VTM, due to the variation of normal load (5 N +/- 1 N) produced as a consequence of the load application by a pivot flexure, are more severe than conditions previously applied on commercial tribo-testers and as a consequence the durability of these films has been lower. The friction force measuring system at the VTM is highly sensitive and friction traces have reproduced this situation, however, the results still demonstrate the lubricating performance of the thin film with mean values of about 0.02.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 333-336 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP |
| Issue number | 524 |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |
| Event | 10th European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium - San Sebastian, Spain Duration: 24 Sept 2003 → 26 Sept 2003 |