Abstract:
A method for lubricating surfaces subject to cycles of high-low temperature conditions by electro-deposition of a solid film lubricant having strong chemical bonds with the substrate surface, the lubricant containing gold and a refractory metal and oxides thereof, the film lubricant being deposited from an aqueous solution of a potassium gold cyanide consisting essentially of 5 to 15 grams per liter potassium gold cyanide, a highly ionizable refractory metal compound the metal constituent of which is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, rhenium, ruthenium and tungsten, the quantity of metal compound at or exceeding 5 grams per liter, and the solution containing a nonreducible conducting salt of up to about 150 grams per liter, deposition being at a solution temperature of 140*F to to 160*F and a controlled solution voltage of 1.4 to 2.0 volts versus a saturated calomel electrode, the solution and deposition being controlled so that the solid lubricating film deposited has a concentration of about 2% to 50% by weight of the refractory metal oxides, the remainder being essentially gold and said refractory metal.