SBIR Phase I: Temperature-adaptive Nano-crystalline Combinatorial Self-Lubricating Coating

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a novel temperature-adaptive nano-crystalline combinatorial self-lubricating coating for cutting tools. Solid lubricant and hard phase combinatorial coated tools have significant potential application for machining applications. Currently available self-lubricating coatings have a soft lubricant phase deposited over a hard phase. The soft phase quickly wears out leaving the under layer of hard phase without lubrication. Also, todays lubricant coatings do not offer temperature adaptability. Both of these problems are addressed will be addressed in this project. The commercial potential of this project will be tools that have an extremely wear-resistant nano-composite coatings which will increase the life of a tool. This technology will have siginificant impact on the cutting tool and die industries.