Durable, Low Friction Coating for Variable Speed Refueling Drogue (VSRD)

ABSTRACT: Current surface modification and lubricant technologies are either ineffective or too expensive and difficult to apply on US Air Force refueling drogue components. A low-cost, non-toxic, environmentally benign, easy to apply lubricant could significantly reduce US Air Force cost burdens to perform aerial refueling exercises and missions. We propose an advanced lubricant technology that, in its first-generation form, exhibited full compliance to MIL-L-23398 performance specifications, and has been fully characterized using sophisticated optical, FTIR, XPS, and AFM spectroscopic techniques. Our permanent, ultra-low coefficient of friction, durable, extreme-pressure resistant lubricant is offered as a cost-effective surface pre-treatment that will synergistically enhance the hydrodynamic performance of liquid lubricants and greases presently in service. Management of friction and wear of drogue refueling components with our lubricant technology will allow the US Air Force to achieve its performance and operating cost targets. An added benefit or our technology will be to extend the service life of the lubricated part and ultimately the life of the drogue refueling system. BENEFIT: Air Force personnel will be pleased with the immediate cost, performance and application benefits from our proposed low-cost, ultra-low coefficient of friction, non-toxic, zero-VOC, environmentally benign, non-flammable, corrosion inhibiting, durable, high load-carrying capacity lubricant coating. Our lubricant technology will have a very low cost relative to mechanical grinding and polishing processes, and traditional lubricants and greases. In addition to outperforming those dated, well-worn products and expensive procedures, our lubricant provides application simplicity through HVLP, VOC-compliant aerosol spray, dip or brush application. We have direct experience developing a successful first-generation lubricant technology through the SBIR program. Advancements to this technology will be conducted to meet further US Army, ASTM, SAE and STLE tribological test standards, specifications and efficiency improvement requirements. Potential Commercial Applications include aerospace servomotor applications, camshaft lobes, recreational rifle bolts and actions, tracked vehicle pins, ring and pinion gear sets, piston skirts, aircraft engine thrust bearings, ring and bore assemblies, and valve seats.