Fullerene (C60) Films for Solid Lubrication

Abstract

The advent of techniques for producing gram quantities of a new form of stable, pure, solid carbon, designated as fullerene, opens a profusion of possibilities to be explored in many disciplines including tribology. Fullerenes take the form of hollow, geodesic domes, which are formed from a network of pentagons and hexagons with covalently bonded carbon atoms. The C₆₀ molecule has the highest possible symmetry (icosaliedral) and assumes the shape of a soccer ball. At room temperature, fullerene molecules pack in a face centered cubic (fee) lattice bonded with weak van der Waals attractions. Fullerenes can be dissolved in solvents such as toluene and benzene and are easily sublimed. The low surface energy, high chemical stability, spherical shape, weak intermolecular bonding, and high load bearing capacity of C₆₀ molecules offer potential for various mechanical and tribological applications. This paper describes the crystal structure and properties of fullerenes and proposes a mechanism for self-lubricating action. Sublimed films of C₆₀ have been produced and friction and wear performance of these films in various operating environments are the subject of this paper. The results of this study indicate that C₆₀, owing to its unique crystal structure and bonding, may be a promising solid lubricant.