SELF-LUBRICATING SURFACES BY ION-BEAM PROCESSING

HIGH TEMPERATURE SOLID LUBRICATION IS OF INTEREST TO TODAY'S GAS TURBINE ENGINE TECHNOLOGY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE VARIABLE STATOR VANE, BUSHINGS AND THRUST REVERSAL BEARINGS IN GAS TURBINE ENGINES REQUIRE HIGH TEMPERATURE SELF-LUBRICATING HARD COATINGS. THE COMMON WAY OF LAYING DOWN SELF-LUBRICATED SURFACES ARE PLASMA SPRAY, VACUUM AND THERMAL DEPOSITIONS. THE COATINGS DEVELOPED BY THESE PROCEDURES ARE GENERALLY POROUS AND DO NOT ADHERE WELL TO THE SUBSTRATE. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP SELF-LUBRICATING COATINGS THROUGH A COMBINED PROCESS OF ELECTRON BEAM EVAPORATION AND ION IMPLANTATION. A COMPOSITE BAF(2)/CAF(2)/AG WILL BE SYNTHESIZED IN THE NEAR SURFACE REGION OF SI(3)N(4) THROUGH ION IMPLANTATION OR ION-BEAM MIXING. ALSO, LUBRICIOUS OXIDES, CDO AND TIO(2), WILL BE SYNTHESIZED IN THE NEAR SURFACE REGION OF STEEL. THE COATINGS WILL BE ANALYZED FOR COMPOSITION, MICROSTRUCTURE, FRICTION AND WEAR USING SUITABLE TECHNIQUES.