The moving mechanical assemblies in space structures need solid lubricants for extreme environments. Fluorinated diamond or diamond-like carbon offers promise because its diamond-like carbon provides low friction and fluorine atoms can passivate the surface layer. Phase I work will develop an innovative photothermal chemical vapor deposition technique to synthesize fluorinated diamond films on space bearing material substrates such as 440C stainless steel and SiC. Halogenated methane and fluorine will be used as precursor gases. Laser grown films will be characterized with x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and chemical analysis. Friction behavior of these films will be studied and compared with the currently used MoS2 and poly tetra fluoroethylene. The lubricants would help space tribosystem components such as mainshaft bearings, gimbals, cage bearings, etc. Additional spin-offs are in microelectronics, optical and machine tools.
