As a result of global economic and environmental change, the demand for innovative, environmentally-friendly technologies is increasing. Employing solid lubricants in rolling contacts can reduce the use of environmentally harmful greases and oils. The aim of the current research was the development of a solid lubricant system with regenerative properties. The layer system consisted of a molybdenum (Mo) reservoir and a top layer of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3). After surface wear, Mo is supposed to react with atmospheric oxygen and form a new oxide. The determination of the wear volume of thin layers cannot be measured microscopically, which is why the wear behavior is initially determined on the nano level. In this work, single Mo and MoO3 coatings prepared by physical vapor deposition (PVD) are characterized by nano testing. The main objective was to determine the wear volume of the single coatings using a newly developed method considering the initial topology. For this purpose, nano-wear tests with different wear paths and normal forces were carried out and measured by in situ scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Based on the characteristic values determined, the coefficient of wear was determined for wear modeling according to Sarkar. The validation of the wear model developed was carried out by further wear tests on the respective mono layers.
Dry lubricated bearings are used in applications that are exposed to high temperatures or other ambient conditions that prohibit the use of lubricants. Examples can be found in the chemical or food industries. To handle such conditions, a molybdenum based layer system was developed for the dry lubrication of rolling contacts. The molybdenum oxide layers are generated by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). By using a magnetron sputter cathode, it is possible to produce a PVD molybdenum oxide multiple layer system. In the preinvestigation phase, various parameters (power, sputtering time, oxygen mass flow, etc.) were used for the preparation in order to achieve optimum adhesion and material strength. In the current project phase, the coatings were qualified by applying microtribological methods. In a first step of qualification, the nano hardness and Young's modulus were investigated via nanoindentation. Additional nano scratch tests allow conclusions regarding the friction and elastic properties of the coatings. In the second step of qualification, the coatings were qualified by micro wear and scratch tests by applying a milli-tribometer. The setup allows the measurement of the frictional properties of a 100Cr6 (AISI 52100) ball against a coated counterpart under oscillating motion. Scratch tests were performed by applying a Rockwell diamond tip with a radius of 5 µm with forces of up to 1 N and scratch lengths of up to 20 mm. The properties of the coatings regarding the transition from nano to micro scale are observed and taken into account for the layer development. With these results it is possible to characterize the generated layers and to define the wear and the optimal parameters for the PVD process. After qualification the coatings will be applied to radial bearing surfaces. The intended use of dry lubricant coating systems on rolling bearings will be presented.
In addition to using conventional lubricants, such as oil and grease, rolling bearings can also be used with a dry lubricant. For example, the use of dry lubricant systems is necessary when the application of oils or greases is not possible (e.g., at high temperatures or in aerospace applications). The requirements of a solid lubricant are to reduce friction and wear of mechanical contact partners. In this work, a molybdenum-based coating system was applied by means of physical vapor deposition (PVD). The coating system consists of a molybdenum (Mo) reservoir with molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) as the top layer. The MoO3, which is particularly important for the run-in and the lubricating effect, is intended to continuously regenerate from the reservoir via tribo-oxidation. To determine the friction and wear behavior, cylindrical roller thrust bearings were used. Experiments demonstrated that the lubrication system is effective and that the frictional behavior has been improved. On the one hand, the frictional torque of the rolling bearings has been considerably reduced and, on the other, significantly extended operating times have been determined compared to unlubricated reference experiments. Simultaneously, material analyses have been carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The investigations showed that the MoO3 was transferred to uncoated bearing components. This improved the tribological behavior and reduced abrasive and adhesive wear.
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