Tribology Laboratory Photo Tour
Engineers use Argonne's Tribology Laboratory to conduct research on advanced tribological systems (surface engineered materials, lubricants, fuels and fuel/lubricant additives) for use in agressive environments. The Lab's "toolbox" includes the following:
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Optical Profilometer
To study wear in engines and drivelines, the amount of material loss is measured using the optical profilometer. The Tribology group uses a MicroXAM surface profiler to obtain three-dimensional maps of the surfaces of materials and test specimens using optical interferometry. The profilometer consists of an optical microscope fitted with interference objectives and a camera. Optical interference creates light and dark fringes that allow the computer to determine the height at each point in the image. The system will inspect areas up to 5mm x 4mm with vertical resolution of about 10 nm. The unit is capable of scanning spheres or cylinders and then numerically subtracting their curvature in order to visualize how well they conform to cylindrical or spherical shapes, and the machine is routinely used to quantitatively measure surface damage that occurs on test specimens. Download high resolution image (3MB) » |
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High-Vacuum Tribometer
This test instrument consists of a pin-on-flat test apparatus housed inside a vacuum chamber. The flat is mounted onto a motorized platform and the ball mounted into a holder that can be exchanged without breaking vacuum via a mechanically-pumped load lock. A residual gas analyzer can monitor gas composition. The position of the motorized platform can be adjusted, allowing multiple tests to be done at different radii on the flat. Pumping is by a turbopump that gives a base pressure near 1x10-7 torr. Tests can be done in vacuum, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and argon gases. Load cells measure friction force and ball load. Rotation speed is between 3 and 30 rpm and load is up to 0.8 kg. Data can be acquired up to 30Hz. Data acquisition speed can be adjusted while operating, enabling very detailed friction measurements to be made as a function of rotation angle, as well as long duration tests. Download high resolution image (4.65MB) » |
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Multi-Specimen Tester
This machine can do a wide variety of severe-contact tribological tests that assess the friction and wear-prevention properties of lubricants. In the common four-ball test, a hardened steel ball is spun against three stationary balls in a triangle configuration, and this is used to test used diesel engine motor oils that have been contaminated by soot from the combustion process. A motor drives the upper vertical shaft holding the rotating ball. The lower shaft is stationary. Computer data acquisition is used to measure friction and temperature. Other test configurations are also available. Download high resolution image (3.59MB) » |
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Ring-on-Liner Reciprocating Tester
One way to increase the fuel efficiency of automobiles and trucks is to reduce the sliding friction between the piston ring and cylinder liners in the engine, without sacrificing durability. This test rig is used to test a short segment (about 2 inches) of piston ring sliding against a section of cylinder cut from a production cylinder. In this way, controlled "torture tests" can be performed on prototype materials to determine their friction and wear properties. Ring-liner loads up to 1200 N are possible and continuous measurements are made of vertical force, friction force, ring position, temperature, and contact resistance. A heater raises the temperature of the sliding contact to 100-125°C to simulate the temperature of an operating engine. Download high resolution image (3.25MB) » |
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Hydrogen Tribometer
The hydrogen tribometer is being used to test new types of materials and protective coatings that are to be used in the internal components of hydrogen compressors, for both pipelines and hydrogen filling stations (for hydrogen vehicles). A spinning thrust-washer configuration tribometer is shown, in which a spinning disk is pushed against a stationary flat. Rotation speeds to 10,000 rpm are possible. The torque exerted on the flat is measured. The inner transparent cylinder holds the apparatus and contains the environment, which can be air, nitrogen, or hydrogen. The outer rectangular enclosure is filled with nitrogen buffer gas when a flammable gas is used. Download high resolution image (3.27MB) » |
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Thermal Transfer Test Loop
Argonne researchers discovered that nanoparticle-fluid suspensions have a much higher and stronger temperature-dependent thermal conductivity at very low particle concentrations than conventional coolants without the nanoparticles. These features make nanofluids a strong candidate for coolants in the transportation industry, such as in heavy trucks where considerable energy is expended pumping and cooling radiator fluid. To this end, the section is developing nanofluids as a new thermal control fluid. The ways in which the nanoparticles in these nanofluids generate enhanced properties are not completely understood. This heated test loop enables measurement of the enhanced thermal conductivity and stability of nanofluids and development of nanofluid technology under conditions similar to those encountered in industrial and transportation systems. With this apparatus, researchers experimentally determine heat transfer rates and pressure drops in flowing nanofluids, and develop and validate new models for nanofluids in both laminar and turbulent flow. Download high resolution image (2.65MB) » |
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Nitrogen Glovebox
This experimental box can be used to perform sample preparations in a controlled environment. The atmosphere inside can be a specific gas or dry air. Gloves enable the operator to manipulate the experiments without admitting room air, and an airlock enables specimens to be introduced without contamination. This was used to melt fluoride glass materials that are sensitive to X-ray radiation for diagnostic use, and this concept and development won an R&D 100 award for Dr. Jacqueline Johnson, Dr. Anthony R. Lubinsky (SUNY-Stony Brook) and Stefan Schweizer (University of Paderborn, Germany). Another use for the glovebox includes the mixing of nanoparticle mixtures (such as enhanced lubricants that increase the lubricity of engine oils).Download high resolution image (3.11MB) » |
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CemeCon Coating Chamber
This thin film plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system is a commercial instrument primarily designed to produce hard coatings for industry, e.g., coatings on metal cutting tools. Its control systems are computerized, and complicated processes can be run without the need for operator intervention, and the computer will continuously monitor and record operating parameters (chamber pressure, temperature, bias voltage, power, etc.). The system has a sample table providing planetary rotation for samples, and two 588 mm long vertically-mounted targets are provided with DC and RF power supplies. The sample table has DC and pulsed supplies. Among the coatings deposited with this system are TiAlN, TiN, CrN, and diamondlike carbon. Download high resolution image (2.54MB) » |
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Tensile Test Machine
The Tribology section uses this controlled atmosphere high temperature tensile test machine for studies of superplastic forming of ceramics in which dissimilar brittle ceramic materials can be joined together so that the joint is stronger than the material itself. Tungsten mesh heater elements in the test machine enable operation in excess of 1400°C. Download high resolution image (2.35MB) » |
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Plasma-Assisted Chemical-Vapor Deposition
This commercial system was designed for the semiconductor field and contains three 8"-diameter targets that can be run individually or simultaneously to deposit metallic or dielectric film son substrates ranging up to 24" in diameter. Power to the sputtering targets is supplied from a 5-kW dc-magnetron supply or a 2-kW rf supply. The deposition system has been used to deposit thin (and in instances thick -e.g., 50 µm) films for tribological, optical, and corrosion applications, particularly a variety of diamondlike carbon coatings containing various quantities of hydrogen (such as deposited on engine or drivetrain parts to increase efficiency). Reactive gases (e.g. O, N, and CH4) can be used during the deposition to form oxide, nitride, and carbide coatings (e.g. TiN, TiC, CeO2, etc.). Download high resolution image (2.72MB) » |
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High-Temperature Seebeck Coefficient Apparatus
Argonne is working on a new class of thermoelectric materials for power generation. These materials produce electric power from heat sources using no moving parts. The apparatus in the photo is used to measure the voltage generated by a temperature gradient (Seebeck coefficient) and the dc electrical conductivity of thermoelectric materials. These measurements, combined with thermal conductivity will be used to calculate the figure of merit of a new class of thermoelectrics. New very-high-temperature materials are being screened in order to find and optimize properties for useful thermoelectric generation of electricity from discarded heat (such as from thermal engines). Download high resolution image (1.94MB) » |
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Ion-Beam-Assisted Deposition
The thin-film vacuum-deposition process combines physical-vapor deposition with ion bombardment. Electron-beam evaporation deposits the coatings. During deposition, the film is bombarded by ions from a low-energy (≤1000 eV) source. Ion bombardment alters film microstructure to produce several effects, often increasing film density. Ion bombardment can be done at various angles and sputter-cleans the specimen for good coating adhesion before deposition. The depositing material originates from an evaporation source, so the specimen can be coated with any material that can be evaporated. During deposition, chemical composition and microstructural properties of the films are tailored by controlling evaporation rates from individual crucibles, partial-pressures of any reactive gases (e.g., O2, N2S, CH4) admitted into the chamber, and the energy and current-density of ions bombarding the substrate/film. Coatings are deposited at low temperatures, but heating to 800°C is available. Specimens can be up to 4 inches in diameter. Shutters allow controlled deposition of multilayer films. The ion source is an 8-cm Kaufman type; a Faraday cup measures ion current. Download high resolution image (2.48MB) » |
April 2008
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