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Novel Additives for Passivating Silicon Nitride Bearing Elements in Perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPAE) Lubricants

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-06-M-5038
Agency Tracking Number: F061-100-0606
Amount: $99,962.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF06-100
Solicitation Number: 2006.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-04-20
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2007-08-20
Small Business Information
2851 Commerce Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
United States
DUNS: 627132913
HUBZone Owned: Yes
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jonas Gunter
 Principal Investigator
 (540) 552-5128
 submissions@lunainnovations.com
Business Contact
 Angela Keen
Title: Sr. Contract Administrator
Phone: (540) 552-5128
Email: submissions@lunainnovations.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The U.S. Air Force has a need for stable high performance lubricants for current and next generation gas turbine engines. Perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPAE) fluids have been the subject of intense development over the past 40 years. This work has led to a current generation of lubricant formulations that are highly resistant to degradation in the presence of modern engineering steels. However, the latest trend in bearing technology is the use of the ceramic silicon nitride. Silicon nitride is susceptible to attack by active fluorine compounds that are produced by the high energy chemistry present at the bearing surface. Luna Innovations proposes a novel new additive having high temperature stability allowing operation above 300oC in engine applications. The novel additives are expected to react under pressure to passivate the silicon nitride surface with a protective thin film chemically bonded to the surface. This will impart inertness to reactive fluorine developed in the PFPAE fluid and greatly reduce wear of silicon nitride bearings.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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