This group is developing new methods and processes to synthesize new nanocomposite coatings with silicon carbide and other ceramics, nanotubes, and polymer based nanocomposites.   Extensive tribological testing of the developed materials and coatings over the range of environments, contact pressures, and sliding velocities experienced by present and future DoD space components are being conducted.  Further, models for life-prediction of coatings on moving mechanical assemblies are being developed and these models will be compared to experiments conducted on component level parts.  The materials development and testing activities are complemented with computational molecular dynamics simulations that are modeling the surface tribological interfaces.

      This work is advancing the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the tribological properties and performance of nanocomposite coatings and materials.  In the process, a wide variety of new multifunctional coating materials and architectures with properties optimized for important DoD space applications are being developed.  Ultimately, such work will revolutionize the design and application of moving mechanical assemblies by extending the range of operational environments for tribological materials and will improve the reliability of these components.

AFOSR MURI PROGRAM