Characterization and Modeling of Nano Wear for Molybdenum-Based Lubrication Layer Systems

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Tribology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Increasing demand for eco-friendly technologies due to global changes.
• Solid lubricants offer an alternative to environmentally harmful greases and oils in rolling contacts.
• Need for advanced lubrication systems with regenerative capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a solid lubricant system with regenerative properties.
• To investigate the wear behavior of single molybdenum (Mo) and molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) coatings.
• To establish a method for determining wear volume in thin solid lubricant layers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Mo and MoO3 coatings using physical vapor deposition (PVD).
• Nano-wear testing with varying wear paths and normal forces.
• In situ measurement of wear using scanning probe microscopy (SPM).
• Determination of the coefficient of wear for wear modeling (Sarkar).

Main Results:

• Characterization of single Mo and MoO3 coatings at the nanoscale.
• Development of a novel method to determine wear volume considering initial topology.
• Successful determination of wear coefficients for wear modeling.
• Validation of the developed wear model through further experimental tests.

Conclusions:

• The developed solid lubricant system shows potential for regenerative properties.
• The novel method accurately determines wear volume in thin layers.
• The wear model provides a reliable basis for understanding and predicting lubricant performance.