Surface metallization of solid lubricants and its effect on the mechanical properties of Fe-based bit matrix

Abstract

Self-lubricating impregnated diamond bit can provide a new technical solution to the lunar drilling problem, but the poor wettability between the solid lubricants and the bit matrix can lead to degradation of physical and mechanical properties of the bit matrix. The influence of properties of the solid lubricant MOS2, WS2 and CAF2 on the electroless plating was studied, and the influence of the solid lubricant coating on the indentation hardness and bending strength of the bit matrix was investigated. The results show that the surface nickel plating of the above three solid lubricants can be achieved by the chemical plating method, but there are some differences in their plating appearances. Under the same volume concentration of condition, MoS2 and WS2 surface metallization can improve the mechanical properties of self-lubricating impregnated diamond bit matrix, but the effect of CaF2 is insignificant.

Keywords

• diamond bit
• self-lubrication
• chemical plating
• surface metallization
• lunar drilling