International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The basic method for examining the condition of gears is the vibroacoustic method. This method is widely used around the world for diagnostic purposes. However, it is not always possible to use it. This especially applies to mechanisms operating ultimately in space. Harsh working conditions, the presence of the vacuum of space, radiation, reactive oxygen ions and many other factors make diagnostics in this environment much more difficult. This article compares vibroacoustic, electrical, optical and other methods in terms of their potential application for diagnostic purposes of gears used in the space industry.

The study of the structure and physicomechanical characteristics of carbon nanostructures, lubricants and cooling liquids was carried out by methods of scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, IR spectroscopy, physicomechanical and physicochemical analysis. Tribotechnical tests were carried out on a friction machine operating according to the “sphere – plane” scheme.The possibility of modifying various liquid media with nanosized carbon particles of various composition, structure, production technology, including those obtained by the method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, has been studied. The studies carried out made it possible to establish general trends in the implementation of the synergistic effect in liquid matrices differing in structure, polarity of macromolecules, and molecular weight.

The article deals with the problem of wear of the train wheel crest and the conditions that affect the process of deformation of the material of the wheelset parts. Factors affecting wear are considered. It is shown that the resource of ridges depends on the nature and speed of chemical and physical processes. It was noted that in the center of destruction of the ridge, an increased content of carbon, oxygen and silicon was detected. It is established that the main way to reduce wear is to lubricate the comb in order to reduce the coefficient of friction.

There were considered the physical, structural and morphological prerequisites for the realization of the nanostate phenomenon of dispersed particles of condensed matter of different composition, nature and technology for production. It was shown the role of the size factor in the occurrence of the nanostate phenomenon due to the change of the energy parameters of the surface layers of particles that contribute to their effective modifying effect on the high-molecular matrix. Physical models of the formation of a particular energy state of dispersed particles and metallic and non-metallic materials substrates, characterized by the presence of local areas ("charge-mosaic") with a long relaxation time are proposed.It was considered practical application of the nanostate phenomenon when creating high-strength and wear-resistant materials based on thermoplastic matrices (PA6, PTFE, PET), consistent lubricant and lubricating oils, tribological and protective coatings for friction units and metalwares used in mechanical engineering, automotive and mining engineering. It was made the examples of the effective use of developed nanocomposite materials in practice.