Friction and Wear Characteristics of Cermets at High Temperature and High Vacuum

Abstract
The friction and wear characteristics of several bearing substrate materials and lubricants were determined aver a temperature range from ambient to 2000 F, and in normal atmosphere with pressure varied from 760 to 10−6 mm Hg. The sliding speed was 14 to 20 fpm. The load ranged from 1500 to 15,000 psi. Two oxide-banded cermets (Cr-Al2O3-W and Cr-Al2-Mo-TiO2) were found to exhibit low wear and moderate friction when run against themselves throughout a wide range of test conditions. A third cermet (Cr-Al2O3) showed very poor frictional properties. Three high-temperature alloys were also investigated for purposes of comparison. Test results are also presented which indicate that two of the cermets were effectively lubricated by precious metal films.