The Tribology To Mechanical Engineering International Scientific and Technical Conference (TRIBOMASH) is one of the most significant events in the field of Tribology, and its tasks include discussing the of modern theoretical and applied problems of friction, wearing, and lubricating. The experts of the leading manufacturing enterprises, organizations engaged in the sphere of science and education participate in this Conference.
In the year 2024, one of the themes for the scientific papers and reports of the Conference became researching MODENGY solid-film coatings efficiency in the rolling bearings. The researches were held with the assistance of the Russian Scientific Fund on Project No.22-49-02010 titled Designing, Developing, Theoretical and Experimental Researches of ‘Smart’ Tribological Coatings for Space Application.
Relevance of substituting the grease lubricating materials traditionally used in the rolling friction units by solid-film coatings is related to operability limitation of the former under conditions of open space and low temperatures on the outward sections of the space stations.
The solid-film coatings are widely used in the spacecraft units with the slide friction pairs, however, there is no experience of such materials application in the rolling bearings.
One of the scientific paper’s authors is Mr. Marat A. Bronovets, the well-known Russian tribologist, an outstanding figure in the field of Tribology, the manager of the series of experiments to study the regularity patterns of friction and materials wear in open space, Deputy Chairman of the Interdepartmental Scientific Council on Tribology, awarded with the Prize from the President of the Russian Federation in the field of education, and also with the Prize from the Government of the RF in the field of science and technology.
During the studies, tribotechnical tests of the rolling bearings treated with MODENGY coatings, without any lubricating material, and treated with the grease recommended for use in the International Space Station (ISS) units were held. The experiments were held at room temperature.
Fig. 3D typography picture of the initial surface of MODENGY solid-film coatings
The results of the experiments prove that efficiency of the MODENGY coatings under study does not inferior efficiency of the grease in the rolling friction units under conditions of the land environment, according to comparative data on resistance to rolling for the coatings and the for grease.
More than that, MODENGY solid-film coatings exclude the drawback of the greases in the part of their non-operability at low temperatures. At low temperatures, the greases experience abrupt increase in viscosity which affects the starting moment of the rolling bearings in a negative way, and limits possibility to use them on the outward side of the ISS. Instead of that, the solid-film coatings retain their tribological properties even at the extremely low temperatures.
Wearing intensity of MODENGY coatings in the rolling friction units stays on the level typical for the slide modes of the solid-film coatings used at the space stations. The solid lubricating coatings have proved their efficiency under extreme conditions such as high temperatures, vacuum, and space flights where grease lubricating materials can fail.
The next stage of researching efficiency of MODENGY coatings for rolling friction units of the space equipment (such as satellites, spacecrafts, lunar rovers, space telescopes, etc) will be tests under condition of vacuum.
Bibliography:
Bronovets M., Bukovskiy P. Solid-Film Coatings for Rolling Bearings // Tribology to Mechanical Engineering: Works for the 15th International Scientific and Technical Conference, pp.26-28. Moscow: MSI RSA, 2024.
Bronovets M. Tribotechnical Coatings for Open Space Applications // “Friction and Wear”, pp.544-550, V.44., Issue 6. Moscow: 2023.