Development of a Space Grease Lubricant with Long-Term-Storage Properties
Controlled vacuum environments as in space applications represent a challenge for the lubrication of tribological components. In addition to common space lubricant requirements like, e.g., low evaporation, a broad operational temperature range and a high stability during operation, long-term-storage...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Lubricants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/12/3/72 |
| _version_ | 1797240276603895808 |
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| author | Fabian Schüler Malgorzata Holynska Théo Henry Michael Buttery Katrin Meier-Kirchner Christian Göhringer |
| author_facet | Fabian Schüler Malgorzata Holynska Théo Henry Michael Buttery Katrin Meier-Kirchner Christian Göhringer |
| author_sort | Fabian Schüler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Controlled vacuum environments as in space applications represent a challenge for the lubrication of tribological components. In addition to common space lubricant requirements like, e.g., low evaporation, a broad operational temperature range and a high stability during operation, long-term-storage (LTS) properties have gained increasing attention recently. The term addresses the time-dependent stability of a lubricant under static conditions, which can mean chemical degradation processes such as oxidation on the one hand, but also the physical separation of oil and thickener in heterogeneous lubricants like greases. Due to the extended storage periods of lubricated components on-ground but also during a space mission for several years, it has to be ensured that a lubricant is still functional after LTS. This article depicts the development of a space lubricant grease with LTS properties. Firstly, LTS requirements and methods for their assessment are discussed. In the following, a systematic approach towards the design of a grease formulation compatible with LTS is described. Finally, the manufacturing of prototype formulations and their broad characterization by means of LTS behaviour, outgassing, and tribological performance is presented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:04:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75d09432f73b4dada694bf7d417b1109 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4442 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:04:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Lubricants |
| spelling | doaj.art-75d09432f73b4dada694bf7d417b11092024-03-27T13:51:40ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422024-02-011237210.3390/lubricants12030072Development of a Space Grease Lubricant with Long-Term-Storage PropertiesFabian Schüler0Malgorzata Holynska1Théo Henry2Michael Buttery3Katrin Meier-Kirchner4Christian Göhringer5Materiales GmbH, Offakamp 9f, 22529 Hamburg, GermanyESA-ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The NetherlandsESA-ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The NetherlandsEuropean Space Tribology Laboratory (ESTL), ESR Technology, 202 Cavendish Place, Birchwood Park, Warrington WA3 6WU, UKMateriales GmbH, Offakamp 9f, 22529 Hamburg, GermanyMateriales GmbH, Offakamp 9f, 22529 Hamburg, GermanyControlled vacuum environments as in space applications represent a challenge for the lubrication of tribological components. In addition to common space lubricant requirements like, e.g., low evaporation, a broad operational temperature range and a high stability during operation, long-term-storage (LTS) properties have gained increasing attention recently. The term addresses the time-dependent stability of a lubricant under static conditions, which can mean chemical degradation processes such as oxidation on the one hand, but also the physical separation of oil and thickener in heterogeneous lubricants like greases. Due to the extended storage periods of lubricated components on-ground but also during a space mission for several years, it has to be ensured that a lubricant is still functional after LTS. This article depicts the development of a space lubricant grease with LTS properties. Firstly, LTS requirements and methods for their assessment are discussed. In the following, a systematic approach towards the design of a grease formulation compatible with LTS is described. Finally, the manufacturing of prototype formulations and their broad characterization by means of LTS behaviour, outgassing, and tribological performance is presented.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/12/3/72greaselubricantaginglong-term storagespacecraft |
| spellingShingle | Fabian Schüler Malgorzata Holynska Théo Henry Michael Buttery Katrin Meier-Kirchner Christian Göhringer Development of a Space Grease Lubricant with Long-Term-Storage Properties Lubricants grease lubricant aging long-term storage spacecraft |
| title | Development of a Space Grease Lubricant with Long-Term-Storage Properties |
| title_full | Development of a Space Grease Lubricant with Long-Term-Storage Properties |
| title_fullStr | Development of a Space Grease Lubricant with Long-Term-Storage Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Space Grease Lubricant with Long-Term-Storage Properties |
| title_short | Development of a Space Grease Lubricant with Long-Term-Storage Properties |
| title_sort | development of a space grease lubricant with long term storage properties |
| topic | grease lubricant aging long-term storage spacecraft |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/12/3/72 |
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