In addition to her “day job” within the European Space Tribology Laboratory (ESTL), Project Scientist Kristine Dreva has found the time to publish a journal article on the effect of temperature in molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) coatings, investigating the structural changes with temperature increase and linking any changes to friction and wear behaviour. This article was produced in collaboration with University of Leeds, where Kristine is in the final stages of her PhD focusing upon solid lubricant development and analysis.
Thin films of PVD MoS2 are one of the most commonly used solid lubricants for space applications due to their excellent friction and wear properties under vacuum. However their tribological properties in moist air environments are less encouraging, due to increased wear rates and higher friction. As exposure to air is often unavoidable, extensive research into the failure mechanisms of MoS2 in air is essential to understand the optimal operating conditions required to minimise damage to the coating’s lamellar structure.
Kristine’s recent journal article analyses how a small temperature increase can affect oxide formation and water desorption within the coating, and how this links to the coating tribological performance. The difference between running MoS2 coating in air at room temperature and at 75deg.C is clear, where a protective 3rd body film is generated at increased temperature.
This article will be published in March’s issue of Surface and Coatings Technology, and can be accessed via the following link, or by contacting Kristine directly.
