Faculty

Associate Professor Seong H. Kim | Research

Nanotribology Research

Self-healing Boundary Lubrication

The main focus of this research is to develop self-healing boundary lubricants suitable for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). MEMS devices are widely utilized in miniature satellites, airflow control, sensors, actuators, accelerometers, gyroscopes, microwave switches, aircraft turbine engines, unmanned aerial vehicles, etc. Protecting MEMS devices against friction, wear, adhesion and other destructive phenomena that hinder performance and shorten operational life poses a significant challenge to militaries as well as commercial industries. The key for reliable boundary lubricant film is to control the interaction between the lubricant molecule and the substrate surface. We are developing ionic polymer lubricants that have electrostatic interactions with the substrate through their ionic groups as well as van der Waals interactions. Unlike covalent chemical bonding, the electrostatic interactions are isotropic so ionic pairs can easily be formed and dissociated as long as the charge neutrality is conserved. This will make the lubricant molecule "bound yet mobile" on the substrate surface. With the lateral mobility, the lubricant layer can repair (self-heal) the wear region by flowing from the surrounding region.

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