This complex alloy has about one third the friction of teflon, but is # 3 on the hardness scale after diamond and cubic boron nitride, the applications boggle the mind: permanent coatings, about 3 microns thick, for anything that rubs together, better than oil. I imagine parts like rings and cylinder walls and bearings coated with this stuff could triple engine life, coatings for drills better than diamond because diamond reacts with the steel backing, a super discovery!
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16102-material-slicker-than-teflon-discovered-by-accident.html
Originally posted by sonhouseMost importantly, when can a get an omelet pan coated with this stuff?
This complex alloy has about one third the friction of teflon, but is # 3 on the hardness scale after diamond and cubic boron nitride, the applications boggle the mind: permanent coatings, about 3 microns thick, for anything that rubs together, better than oil. I imagine parts like rings and cylinder walls and bearings coated with this stuff could triple en ...[text shortened]... ://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16102-material-slicker-than-teflon-discovered-by-accident.html
On a serious note, I suspect a development like this will not be met with enthusiasm by the auto industry, you can see something like this put in engine cylinder walls, rings, valves, bearings, etc., and I suspect the auto industry will wall off any attempt to put this stuff in their engines and drive trains. Can you imagine the reaction of, say, a GM CEO when it is shown an engine can be made that lasts 500,000 miles for sure and maybe one million miles and gets 10 percent better gas mileage to boot?
You can hear them now, Those Japs forced us to make engines last 100,000 miles, dam if I am going to make em last 5 times longer.....
Originally posted by sonhouseIt's stable at high temperatures?
On a serious note, I suspect a development like this will not be met with enthusiasm by the auto industry, you can see something like this put in engine cylinder walls, rings, valves, bearings, etc., and I suspect the auto industry will wall off any attempt to put this stuff in their engines and drive trains. Can you imagine the reaction of, say, a GM CEO w ...[text shortened]... ced us to make engines last 100,000 miles, dam if I am going to make em last 5 times longer.....
Originally posted by AThousandYoungYep, they didn't say exactly what temp it breaks down but they mentioned it would be good for drill bit tips because diamond reacts with the steel at high temps and this stuff does not, so that is an indication it should work in an engine. Time will tell.
It's stable at high temperatures?
Originally posted by Sam The ShamThe possiblities are endless for sure. You would still have to deal with gunpowder residue I would think, it wouldn't be a cure-all for guns. I imagine military weapons like your 50 cal machine guns would run a bit cooler so could fire longer due to less friction, presumably the bullets and bore would be coated with the stuff.
Sounds like it would be a great firearm application, no more gun oil, just clean it.
My main thing would be to see them in engines though.