New Solid Lubricants: Their Preparations, Properties and Potential for Aerospace Applications

A group of compounds are described whose physical and chemical properties make them attractive solid lubricant candidates for aerospace applications. The compounds are diehalcogenides of the Group VB and VIB metals niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and tungsten. Through a description and discussion of their frictional characteristics and other pertinent properties, the potentials that they possess for applications in unusual environments are illustrated.