Current research projects

Tribological investigations of oil-refrigerant-material-systems

Micro heat exchangers in refrigeration

Cold meter

Breakthrough Sensor for Adsorption Filters (BelA)

Calibration of Low Temperature Sensors

In-situ investigation concerning the swelling behaviour of polymer materials under elevated pressures and temperatures

Range of services laboratory analyses

Production of novel barrier layers on polymer materials to reduce hydrogen permeation

Modular storage system for solar cooling

Ionocaloric cooling

Electrochemical decontamination of electrically conducting surfaces „EDeKo II“

Preformance measurements of heat exchangers

Optimizing HVAC operation with machine learning

Overall System Optimization of Refrigeration Plant Systems for Energy Transition and Climate Protection

Innovative Manufacturing Technologies for Cryosorption Systems

Thermostatic Expansion Valves

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Low Temperature Tribology

Industry and R&D

Dipl.-Ing. Gunar Schroeder

+49-351-4081-5129

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Tribological studies at cryogenic temperatures

For special applications at cryogenic temperatures the use of dry friction is necessary because the working temperatures are significant lower than the working range of liquid lubricants.

The ILK Dresden has extensive experience in the field of material testing at cryogenic temperatures and has developed a measuring system (from roomtemperature down to cryogenic temperatures) to determine the roughness and the coefficient of friction of different sliding material combinations.

The test stand consists of an experimental platform and a traversing mechanism with a force sensor, which is controlled via PC. The direct measurement of the friction force is carried out by the distance covered. Measurements can be performed down to −196 °C (lower temperatures on request). The cooling of the experimental platform and the samples is realised by a controlled liquid nitrogen heat exchanger/evaporator. Measurements are performed under an atmosphere of gaseous nitrogen to prevent the ingress of moisture. Thereby the experimental samples have no direct contact to liquid nitrogen. The uniform temperature distribution is measured by thermocouples, which are calibrated at the ILK Dresden.

Advantages: modular test setup which can be changed to specific requirements; adjustment of sample geometry and/or test track is possible.

Parameter

Measuring accuracy	Measuring range 0.4 N to 2 N	≤ 1 % of measured value
	Measuring range 2 N to 100 N	≤ 0.5 % of measured value
	Measuring range extendible up to 5 kN
Repeatability (e.g. PTFE)	± 0.05 N respectively 1.5 % of coefficient of friction