Polymer Surface Dynamics and Boundary Lubrication

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0004525ArcherThere is a long-standing need for engineering materials that are in one way or another self lubricating.These materials are promising for a variety of applications where conventional lubricants eithercannot be used (e.g., joint replacement surgery in humans), or where their use is too costly (e.g.deployed space vehicles, such as satellites, space-based observatories, and permanently deployedspace exploration equipment). Self-lubricated components also hold promise for preventing prematurefailure of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). To design an effective self-lubricatedmaterial from the molecular, nano-scale, it is necessary that lubricant molecules possess high surface mobility even when chemically grafted to a rigid substrate. The objective of the proposed research is two-fold: First, to fundamentally understand dynamics of uncharged polymeric and oligomeric species tethered to solid substrates; and Second, to develop high-mobility oligomer and polymer lubricating coatings usingtethered molecules, as a design of lubricating surfaces from the nano-scale up. The suitability of these coatings for self-lubricated MEMS fabrication will be evaluated in collaboration with researchers at the Cornell Nanofabrication facility.