Lubricous wear surfaces will be developed for use on mechanisms exposed to low-Earth orbit environment for extended periods. Such lubricous surfaces are expected to have long wear and excellent resistance to atomic oxygen degradation. The wear surfaces are created by ion-deposited, diamond-like carbon film and/or ion-implanted chromium or chromium plus oxygen. The ion-beam processing and implantation equipment to be used for this work is unique in that it employs large-diameter ion-beams of very high current density. A novel controlled environment tribotester, capable of providing simulated atomic oxygen environment around the wear tested surfaces, will be used for evaluations. Expected Phase I and II results are surface modification process and evaluation techniques sufficiently developed that NASA may confidently specify the process to create lubricous surfaces on mechanical elements for use in long-duration, low-earth orbit applications such as Space Station Freedom.A surface treatment process that makes surfaces long wearing, lubricous, and resistant to oxygen degradation will provide superior performance in critical civilian and government terrestrial applications.ion, deposition, implantation, atomic-oxygen, lubricous, DLC STATUS: Phase I Only
