Modification of SEM for In-Situ, Liquid-Lubricated Sliding Studies

Abstract

Abstract Modifications to an existing scanning electron microscope (SEM) are described which allow wear experiments to be performed inside the SEM chamber with a low vapor pressure hydrocarbon oil as the lubricant. Continuous video tape records and photomicrographs at magnifications up to 6000 × were made for several preliminary sliding experiments of steel us steel with an in-situ pin-on-cylinder test apparatus. The contact areas of steel sliding surfaces could be imaged through the lubricant film allowing observation of the deformation process as well as lubricant flow behavior. Continuous monitoring of the coefficient of friction allowed correlations to be drawn between friction data and cylinder surface topography. Comparisons in friction and wear were also made between dry and lubricated contacts. Presented as an American Society of Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/ASLE Tribology Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 20–22, 1986 Notes Presented as an American Society of Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/ASLE Tribology Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 20–22, 1986