SMART QUASICRYSTALS: Tailored quasicrystalline surface layers for reduced friction and wear

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0508-1

Key words (English)

Thin films; mechanical properties; oxidation and corrosion; Industrial Manufacture; Materials Technology

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: G5RD-CT-2001-00584

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.8 Generic R&D activities

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Université de Fribourg
Groupe de Recherche Physique du Solide

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris (F); Josef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana (SI); Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich (D); Katholieke Universiteit, Nijmegen, (NL); Austrian Research Centre, Seibersdorf, (A); ETH Zürich, (CH); Centre de Reserches et d'Etudes Européen, St. Gobain, Cavaillon (F); Cerametal, Luxembourg, (L); Contraves Space AG, Zürich (CH); Austrian Aerospace, Vienna (A)

Abstract (English)

The project aims at the reduction of fretting and sticking in selected dry sliding mechanical devices used in aerospace and in the manufacturing of sintered tungsten tools. To this end, new materials are being used because their properties of low friction and reduced surface energy are now well established. A better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of friction on these materials is however still necessary in order to match the required level of performance.

To this end, the project joins the efforts of twelve partners, eight academics and four from industry (one producer and three end-users) in eight European countries. They will deal with the selection and tailoring of compositions, measurements of the surface and topography, surface and bulk electronic structure is well as dynamical properties, study of phase transformations and plasticity of the quasicrystalline materials, and - last but not least - processing of surface layers. Relevant demonstrators will be tested in ground facilities. Markets aimed at encompass powders distributors, fast cutting tools, mechanical devices for satellites, and beyond these the mechanical industries in general. It is also expected from modelling work a deeper insight into the basics of dry sliding on solid surfaces.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0508-1