Method for Fabricating Diamond-Dispersed, Fiber-Reinforced Composite Coating on Low-Temperature Sliding Thrust Bearing Interfaces

Innovators at NASA's Glenn Research Center have developed a method for fabricating a fiber-reinforced diamond composite coating on the surfaces of sliding thrust bearings at low and cryogenic temperatures. The innovative composite coating is a mixture of diamond particles, organic chemicals, and fibers or fabrics. The diamond particles provide high hardness, and the fibers and binding matrix provide high-fracture toughness. Glenn's fabrication method can be tailored to meet a range of performance requirements for lightweight, low-temperature sliding thrust bearing applications. For example, the volume fraction of diamond particles can be increased to enhance the hardness of the composite coating, or the volume fraction of binding matrix can be increased to enhance its crack or fracture resistance. Glenn's method offers a diamond composite coating that is more cost-effective, wear-resistant, and fracture-tough than existing alternatives.