LOW-FRICTION SLIDING MECHANISM

• US 20090118148A1
• Filed: 04/02/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jean Michel Martin, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Jean Michel Martin, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Watanabe, Masahiko, Sagawa, Takumaru, Kano, Makoto, Martin, Jean Michel
• Application Number:
  US12/295,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118148A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 508/109
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 105/14 polyhydroxy
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/06 Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/25 Internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2080/00 Special pretreatment of the material to be lubricated, e.g. phosphatising or chromatising of a metal
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/16 Sliding surface consisting mainly of graphite

Abstract

[Summary]

[Object] To provide a low-friction sliding mechanism capable of exhibiting an extremely excellent ultra-low friction characteristics at a sliding face existing in a variety of uses.

[Solving means] A low-friction sliding mechanism is constituted by disposing a lubricant containing glycerol, at a sliding face formed between sliding members which have respectively hard carbon thin films. A low-friction sliding mechanism is constituted by disposing a lubricant containing hydroxyl group, at a sliding face formed between sliding members which have respectively hard carbon thin films, wherein a friction coefficient of smaller than 0.02 is exhibited in a sliding contacting condition under a boundary lubrication which exhibits a friction coefficient of 0.1 to 0.14 at a sliding face between a steel and a steel in presence of an engine oil. Each hard carbon thin film is formed of a-C or ta-C. Each hard carbon thin film has a hardness of 1500 to 5000 Hv in micro-Vickers hardness under a load of 10 g. Each hard carbon thin film has a film thickness of 0.3 to 2.0 μm. The lubricant containing hydroxyl group is one of alcohols, and is glycerol.

Claims

1. A low-friction sliding mechanism comprising sliding members which respectively have hard carbon thin films between which a sliding face is formed, and a lubricant containing glycerol, existing at the sliding face.

3. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hard carbon thin film is a diamond-like carbon thin film formed of amorphous carbon (a-C) and/or tetrahedral carbon (ta-C).

4. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hard carbon thin film has a hardness of 1500 to 5000 Hv in micro-Vickers hardness under a load of 10 g.

5. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hard carbon thin film has a hardness of 2000 to 3500 Hv in micro-Vickers hardness under a load of 10 g.

6. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hard carbon thin film has a film thickness of 0.3 to 2.0 μ

m.

7. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hard carbon thin film has a film thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 μ

m.

10. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein hydrogen group and hydrogen group face each other to form a sliding interface of a tribo-film, at the sliding face.

11. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hydrogen group is a part of the lubricant.

2. A low-friction sliding mechanism comprising sliding members which respectively have hard carbon thin films between which a sliding face is formed, and a lubricant containing hydroxyl group, existing at the sliding face,

wherein a friction coefficient of smaller than 0.02 is exhibited in a sliding contacting condition under a boundary lubrication which exhibits a friction coefficient of 0.1 to 0.14 at a sliding face between steels in presence of an engine oil.

8. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lubricant containing hydroxyl group is one of alcohols.

9. A low-friction sliding mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lubricant containing hydroxyl group is glycerol.