VITRO-LUBE NPI-1220C

Our previous discussion on modifications to the basic 1220 formula dealt only with results from our in-house testing. Since that time, other companies using different test machines and criteria have run comparative tests with the basic 1220 coating and the modified 1220C coating and have obtained increased performance similar to our in-house tests.

Table III summarizes the results using three different test machines including our pin and vee groove machine. This table illustrates that all three procedures show similar improvement in performance even though they differ greatly in specimen configuration and test conditions.

Table III -
Wear Life Comparison Between Vitro-Lube NPI-1220 and NPI-1220C

In addition to the test data shown in Table III, the Vitrolube NPI-1220C has been tested on actual hardware for some of the newer aerospace designs and the results have been consistently superior to other tested products. A number of these designs have involved gears and screw threads which are applications where dry film lubricants are not normally considered to be at their best but where the 1220C coating has been consistently superior to other coatings, and has exceeded all design requirements.

THE RIDER AND FLAT PLATE TEST
(1996) at +500°F

Figure 1

As shown in Figure 1, the rider and flat plate test machine subjects the coating to a unit pressure of 10,000 psi, temperature of +500°F, a speed of 33 reciprocating cycles per minute and a motion of ±0.5 inches (2 inches per cycle). Material combinations consisted of 440C versus 17-4, 6-4 titanium versus 6-4 titanium, and 6-2-2-2-2 titanium versus 6-2-2-2-2 titanium. Based on these results, the 1220C coating is being added to an existing user specification for use on newer design applications.

THE TIMKEN RING AND CONFORMING BLOCK TEST

Figure 2

Figure 2 illustrates the Timken ring and conforming block test machine which subjects the coating to a unit pressure of 1900 psi, a speed of 50 cycles per minute (oscillating), an amplitude of oscillation of 60 degrees, and at room temperature. Test materials were 17-4 PH corrosion resistant steel. Based on these results, the 1220C coating has been added to an existing user specification for use on newer design applications.

THE PIN AND VEE BLOCK TEST

Figure 3

Figure 3 illustrates the pin and vee block test machine which subjects the coating to a load of 1000 lbf at a speed of 290 rpm and at room temperature. (Because this is a small area of contact on the vee blocks, the unit load is extremely high). Test materials were SAE 4130 steel. The data shown is a compilation of tests conducted by NPI over the past two years during standard batch check tests. In some cases, with the 1220C coating, batch testing is required by some user specifications on every purchase order. These results show data on 25 batches of the 1220 coating and 15 batches of the 1220C coating.

Based on this accumulation of test data from a variety of users as well as the consistently high performance in our batch checks tests, NPI feels fully confident in recommending the Vitro-Lube NPI-1220C coating as a replacement for the 1220 coating as well as for use on any new designs. It is already being extensively used in a variety of space station applications and on other new designs for various aerospace programs.

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