Beryllium based, wear-resistant material for bearings and the like

Abstract

A gas bearing and bearing surfaces capable of operating in an unlubricated configuration and providing reliable wear-resistant, start/stop cycling. The bearing typically comprises opposed surfaces of the same or different materials. A first surface is typically formed by ion implantation of boron into a beryllium metal bearing structure. The boron is typically implanted at a predetermined depth into the beryllium surface to provide a substantially pure beryllium surface. The second surface is typically PYROCERAM, a ceramic metal composite, such as a titanium diboride beryllium structure or a surface having titanium diboride and beryllium applied to a beryllium metal bearing structure by hot isostatic pressing facing. The second surface is adapted to run against the first, or against itself in the ceramic or ceramic surface case. The bearing configuration is capable of running reliably and with acceptably low wear through many start/stop cycles without the application of any lubricant. The titanium diboride, beryllium composite applied to a beryllium substrate finds further application such as in wear or impact-resistant surfaces.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.