ION PLATED THIN METALLIC FILM LUBRICANTS FOR ROCKETS AND SPACE VEHICLES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Associate Professor, on leave from Cairo University (Present address: Dept. of Mech. Engg., King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia).

Abstract

This paper presents experimental results on the frictional behaviour of ion plated soft metallic films.
The conventional ion plating process is used to deposit low melting point materials such as silver, lead, indium, and tin. Tribotesting of the coatings is made both in ultrahigh vacuum and in normal atmosphere on a pin-disc machine.
The results indicate that an intermetallic composition of 60% pb, 25% In, 10% Sn and 5% Ag is the best for its low friction and long life.