Automated Material Deposition Chamber

AFRL materials scientists have acquired an automated deposition chamber (see figure on next page) that enables them to simultaneously or sequentially deposit solid-lubricant coatings onto target objectives from any of three deposition sources. The chamber also incorporates AFRLinvented technology entailing a hybrid, magnetron-assisted, pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) process. The scientists acquired the chamber to study protective solid-lubricant coatings capable of resisting wear and corrosion in (relatively) large friction components, including gears and bearings, and preventing static friction in microelectromechanical systems devices such as switches and connectors.