Solid Lubricants for Space Structures. Phase 2

摘要

In this Phase II effort, copper-lead alloys of three different compositions (90-10, 75/25, and 50/50 copper-lead) were processed by swirl die continuous casting in the form of ingots and further processed into powders using the gas atomization method. The powders were compacted using shock campaction and hot isostatic pressing. Friction and wear studies revealed that the 75/25 alloys had the best friction and wear rates under a range of sliding speeds and contact loads. Bearing cages, brushes, bushings and gears were produced from the different compositions and processing conditions. The components were tested in specially designed test rigs by the National Council for Tribology, U.K.. The 90/10 hot isostatically pressed bearing cages outperformed the currently used lead-bronze cages and produced mini noise for One (1) million revolutions. In the case of brushes, all the compositions and processing conditions outperformed all the materials that had been tested previously at NCT. Moderate to little improvements were observed in gears and bushings.