Chemical Consultants Network ZOOM MEETING

LUBRICATION IN SPACE

Jeff Lince, Space Tribology Consulting, Inc

DATE & TIME: March 12, 2025 6:30 PM

Abstract: Lubricating bearings and gears that must operate in the vacuum of space or inside a vacuum system like those used for physical vapor deposition is a difficult proposition. Most oils and greases used in air will evaporate in vacuum, causing mechanism failure and contamination of important materials and components. In space, there are additional difficulties, including vibration during launch, thermal cycling on orbit, and the need to work effectively for missions up to twenty years in duration without lubricant replenishment. Two classes of materials that can handle these problems are used in space and vacuum systems: (1) liquid lubricants (oils and greases) that are synthetically designed for low evaporation, wide temperature ranges, and long life, and (2) solid lubricants (like molybdenum disulfide and PTFE) that are formulated using various species and techniques to form composites and coatings, especially for applications requiring even lower evaporation and greater temperature ranges than for liquid lubricants.

This webinar will present examples of typical lubricated space mechanisms, as well as recent tribological and surface chemical studies illustrating the performance and challenges of solid lubricants. Lessons learned in spacecraft lubrication will be discussed to inform lubricating techniques for vacuum systems, which although are more accessible and less expensive than spacecraft, have their own unique challenges.

Biography: Dr. Jeffrey Lince is the President of Space Tribology Consulting, Inc, where he provides guidance on solid lubrication, sliding electrical contacts, and the chemistry of surfaces, interfaces, and coatings. During his previous 34 years as a Senior Scientist at The Aerospace Corporation, he acted as SME in these areas NASA, commercial, and US Govt space projects. He completed his PhD studies at UCLA in Surface Chemistry in 1985. Dr. Lince has authored over fifty technical papers and recently won the 2022 Paper of the Year award from the journal Lubricants for his paper on “Effective Applications of Solid Lubricants in Spacecraft Mechanisms.” He has been interviewed several times for the Tribology and Lubrication Technology magazine. He is currently a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), and the American Vacuum Society (AVS). He has served on the Executive Committee of the Southern California Chapter of the AVS from 2007 through the present.

Reservation: Use the register button to register for this meeting. The Zoom link will arrive via email

Location:  Online via Zoom! (registration required)