Research Status of Cryogenic Solid Lubrication

A review on the recent progress of cryogenic solid lubrication is given. The properties of cryogenic environments and suited test methods of tribological characteristics are presented. The cryogenic environments have been classified as cryogenic liquid media and vacuum cryogenic conditions. Under above two different conditions, the tribological properties of common solid lubricants, as well as lamellar solids, polymers, soft metals, are presented associated with their application on cryogenic ball bearings. The research field of cryogenic solid lubrication certainly should be one of the most research hotspot in the future. Though valuable application progress has obtained, it still needs profound and systematic research.