I-Corps: Low-Friction and Durable Graphite Coatings for Conveyor System Applications

I-Corps：适用于输送系统应用的低摩擦且耐用的石墨涂层

• 批准号: 2053022
• 负责人: Min Zou
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: University of Arkansas
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-03-01 至 2023-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2053022&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Low; Friction; Durable; Graphite

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project lies in addressing the economic losses resulting from poor lubrication practices in conveyor systems, associated maintenance, and equipment downtime, which are estimated to be 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with a total of more than $1 trillion per year across all U.S. industries. The successful completion of the project could significantly reduce the energy consumption and equipment failure in conveyor systems and provide a fundamental understanding of the proposed coating technology, which could be applied to other systems or components, such as shaft seals, bearings, gears, and chains, producing significant savings across U.S. industries. The technology could expand the global low-friction coating market and replace the use of non-durable powder or spray lubricants as well as petroleum-based oil lubricants, which are harmful to the environment. The project will provide extensive education and leadership training in innovation and entrepreneurship to the I-Corps team, equipping the team with the required knowledge and skills to lead high-tech startup companies and develop knowledge-based industries in Arkansas.This I-Corps project focuses on the commercialization feasibility of low friction, durable graphite solid lubricant coatings for conveyor systems. The use of graphite as a solid lubricant coating has been limited due to its poor adhesion to substrates and high wear rate. The proposed novel graphite coating can potentially address these challenges. The key differentiation of the proposed coating technology is a unique bonding approach to adhere the graphite coatings to a substrate with high strength, which has been challenging to achieve previously. The expected technical outcome of this project is the production of dry-lubricated conveyor materials that show friction reductions of at least 50% with improved durability.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于解决由输送系统润滑不良、相关维护和设备停机造成的经济损失，这些损失估计占国内生产总值（GDP）的6%，美国所有行业每年的总损失超过1万亿美元。该项目的成功完成可以显著降低输送系统的能耗和设备故障，并提供对所提出的涂层技术的基本理解，该技术可应用于其他系统或部件，如轴封、轴承、齿轮和链条，为美国各行业带来显著节省。该技术可以扩大全球低摩擦涂料市场，并取代对环境有害的非耐用粉末或喷雾润滑剂以及石油基润滑油的使用。该项目将为I-Corps团队提供创新和创业方面的广泛教育和领导力培训，为团队提供领导高科技初创公司和在阿肯色州发展知识型产业所需的知识和技能。I-Corps项目的重点是为输送系统提供低摩擦、耐用的石墨固体润滑剂涂层的商业化可行性。石墨作为固体润滑剂涂层的使用受到限制，因为它与基材的附着力差，磨损率高。提出的新型石墨涂层可以潜在地解决这些挑战。该涂层技术的关键区别在于其独特的粘合方法，可以将石墨涂层粘附到高强度的基材上，这在以前一直是具有挑战性的。该项目的预期技术成果是生产干润滑输送机材料，该材料显示摩擦减少至少50%，并提高耐用性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。