National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

Sandia Corporation

Michael T Dugger

Brendan L Nation

John C Curry

Michael E Chandross

Nicolas Argibay

Ping Lu

Tomas Farley Babuska

David P Adams

Brad Boyce

Rand Garfield

James A Ohlhausen

Blythe G Clark

Alexander James Mings

John Francis Curry

David B Asay

Seong H Kim

Nathaniel S Bobbitt

Steven Robert Larson

The invention is directed to environmentally stable solid lubricant coatings with bilayer transition-metal dichalcogenide structures that are designed to resist the effects of oxidation during long term storage, or during short exposures under conditions that would oxidize similar films that do not have these bilayer structures. In addition to improving oxidation resistance, these bilayer structures also facilitate the more rapid establishment of a low, steady-state friction coefficient than is possible with similar films that do not have these bilayer structures.

Environmentally stable solid lubricant coating

The present invention relates, in part, to systems for characterizing force (e.g., friction, and wear). In one embodiment, a tribometer allows for wear testing of samples in a high throughput manner. A counterface is used to apply force on the surface of the sample. A carousel provides for the rapid exchange of new for old counterfaces in the tribometer test head, thereby enabling the use of a new counterface for each new wear test without the need for operator interaction.

High throughput tribometer

The present invention relates, in part, to systems for characterizing force (e.g., friction, wear, and/or torque). In one embodiment, the system allows for wear testing of samples in a high throughput manner. In another embodiment, the system allows for torque sensing in a non-contact manner.

Friction testing and torque sensing systems

The present invention relates to methods of forming a film between two surfaces, in which the film includes diamond-like carbon. Also provided herein are uses of such films, such in sliding contacts and in metal coatings.

Diamond-like carbon films and uses thereof

The present invention relates to metal coatings and methods thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to ultra-low wear noble metal alloys, such as for use in electrical contact coatings.

Stable nanocrystalline metal alloy coatings with ultra-low wear

The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing a bearing, as well as systems including such an apparatus. In one instance, the apparatus allows for torsional losses of a bearing to be determined in a highly sensitive manner. Results can be determined in a controlled environment, as the system can include an environmental enclosure to encapsulate the testing apparatus.

High sensitivity bearing tester and systems thereof

A method is provided for tribological lubrication of sliding contact surfaces, where two surfaces are in contact and in motion relative to each other, operating in a vapor-phase environment containing at least one alcohol compound at a concentration sufficiently high to provide one monolayer of coverage on at least one of the surfaces, where the alcohol compound continuously reacts at the surface to provide lubrication.

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Tijeras, NM, United States of America

Michael T Dugger