Solid lubrication with MoS2-Ti-C films for high-vacuum applications in a nuclear fusion experimental device
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a study on composite coating films for solid lubrication applied on the surface of bearings and gears, which are exposed to the vacuum vessel of a tokamak fusion experimental device running under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Experimental advanced superconducting tokamak is a tokamak fusion experimental device running under ultra-high vacuum conditions. To avoid polluting the inner vessel environment, solid lubrication has been applied on the surface of bearings and gears, which are exposed to the vacuum.
Design/methodology/approach
Anti-friction MoS2 coatings integrated with Titanium and Carbon have been developed using the multi-target magnetron sputtering deposition technique. This paper presents the comparative testing of tribological properties for three kinds of MoS2-based coating layers.
Findings
Based on the test results, MoS2-Ti-C coating films are supposed to be the final selection because of the better performance of friction coefficient and lubrication longevity.
Originality/value
Finally, the detailed information has been characterized for the hybrid coatings, which can provide some references for applications of solid lubrications under similar conditions of high vacuum and temperature.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National “973” Program of China (Chinese ITER Special Support Project, No. 2014GB101000), funding by China Scholarship Council and a collaboration framework between ASIPP China and LUT Finland. The authors also deeply thank all members of EAMA design team and the colleagues in ASIPP and LUT for their hard work and beneficial discussions.
Citation
Shi, S., Wu, H., Song, Y. and Handroos, H. (2018), "Solid lubrication with MoS2-Ti-C films for high-vacuum applications in a nuclear fusion experimental device", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 70 No. 1, pp. 155-160. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-10-2016-0247
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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