Researchers of the Military Educational and Scientific Center of the Air Force "Air Force Academy.
Professor N.E.
Zhukovsky and Yu.A.
Gagarin" presented at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2022" a unique anti-friction lubricant VPK-AZ (highly dispersed cladding component).
The product allows you to significantly improve the operational and environmental performance of internal combustion engines (ICE) of automotive vehicles of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as well as restore the factory (initial) parameters of firearms.
Andrey Agafonov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Project Manager of the Air Force Academy, spoke about this in an RT commentary on the sidelines of the Army-2022 forum.
“We carried out research work commissioned by the High Command of the Aerospace Forces.
VPK-AZ is a line of compounds (lubricants. -
RT
) for restoring mechanisms.
If we explain the essence of the purpose of the VPK-AZ in the simplest possible language, then the use of our compositions allows us to create a protective coating of cermets (ZPMK), which significantly reduces the negative effect of the friction force,” Agafonov said.
Protective covering
It is poured into the VPK-AZ engine as an additive (additive) to ordinary motor oil in the proportion of 1 ml of concentrate per 4 liters of oil.
With constant use, the resource of an internal combustion engine increases by at least 1.5-2 times.
One of the main advantages of the VPK-AZ in combat conditions, Agafonov called the ability of the lubricant to ensure the long-term operation of the internal combustion engine both in oil starvation and in the complete absence of oil.
VPK-AZ line with a capsule-type composition
© RT / Alexey Zakvasin
The scientist noted that now the use of any equipment without a sufficient amount of oil is fraught with catastrophic consequences for the motor, and often becomes completely impossible.
“In combat conditions, equipment often fails with oil leaking from the engine.
In such situations, the crew of the combat vehicle is simply forced to leave it on the battlefield.
The use of VPK-AZ allows you to continue operating the equipment and complete the task set by the command, ”Agafonov explained in an interview with RT.
Earlier, scientists from the Air Force Academy conducted an experiment on a ZIL-131 off-road vehicle.
They simulated a combat undermining of the oil pan, that is, a reservoir for engine oil.
The test took place at a temperature of -23 ⁰С.
Oil was drained from the warm engine, after which the car with a large supply of fuel in the tank was in motion for an hour and a half.
Previously, only KAMAZ PJSC conducted a similar test.
During it, the internal combustion engine without oil in the fail-safe mode worked for only 75 seconds, Agafonov said.
“I want to emphasize that the time of our experiment was limited to one and a half hours.
Throughout this period, the internal combustion engine was in good condition, ”said Agafonov.
In the rear and in peacetime, the VPK-AZ allows, without dismantling and disassembling, to restore the operability of components and assemblies of internal combustion engines for about 20-25 engine hours.
“VPK-AZ is a whole line of compositions that makes it possible to obtain a protective coating of cermets on friction pairs of ferrous metal — steel, cast iron.
In an internal combustion engine, the impact of VPK-AZ is also directed to the restoration of gearboxes, compressors, variators, open gear drives, ”the scientist explained.
According to Agafonov's colleague, one of the developers of the VPK-AZ, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Lieutenant Colonel Gleb Berestevich, in order to achieve the greatest positive effect, the engine must be treated VPK-AZ three times.
As the scientist specified, between treatments the car should drive 350-400 km.
Candidate of Technical Sciences Lieutenant Colonel Gleb Berestevich (left) and Project Manager of the Air Force Academy Andrey Agafonov (right)
© RT / Alexey Zakvasin
“As a result of three times processing, we get a wear-resistant internal combustion engine with an increased motor resource and high quality characteristics,” Berestevich said in a commentary on RT at the Army-2022 forum.
Earlier, Andrey Agafonov and Honored Inventor of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Air Force Academy Viktor Belyaev published an article about the VPK-AZ in the Innovation Bulletin of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The material reported that the composition of the product is a powder mixture of natural minerals, metal oxides, catalysts based on rare earth materials, as well as additives in the form of organic substances.
The size of solid particles VPK-AZ does not exceed 0.5 microns, which guarantees their free passage inside the internal combustion engine and excludes the possibility of settling in filter systems.
“This coating makes it possible to successfully operate internal combustion engines under extreme conditions, at very high loads, overheating, and even with a complete loss of engine oil.
In this case, the process of restoring the geometric dimensions of the surfaces of friction pairs is carried out during the operation of the engine.
The effect of a one-time use of VPK-AZ lasts up to 50 thousand km, ”the article notes.
According to the authors of the product, today the use of VPK-AZ is the least expensive way to process the cylinder-piston group of ICE mechanisms in order to obtain the effect of honing (applying ordered roughness) between friction pairs and retaining a sufficient amount of oil between them.
“The protective coating of cermet and the oil it holds seal the gaps in the cylinder-piston group, due to which compression is leveled, the quality of fuel combustion improves, and friction losses are reduced.
This provides a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 7%,” the scientists note.
ZIL-131
RIA News
© Sergey Averin
Also, the developers consider the reduction of ICE wear during “cold start” at extremely low temperatures, for example, in arctic conditions, as a significant advantage of the VPK-AZ.
At the moment, VPK-AZ has passed laboratory tests and official testing on samples of military equipment.
"Bullet of Health"
One of the modifications of the VPK-AZ is a composition under the name VKP (b) - a highly dispersed cladding (combat) component.
His tests were carried out on Makarov pistols (PM), Kalashnikov assault rifles, sniper rifles (SVD) and Kalashnikov machine guns (PK and RPK).
VKP(b) allows you to restore the worn-out inner surface of the bore of firearms without disassembly - their resource increases by 2-3 times.
It also increases the accuracy of fire, "while ensuring the normative value of the initial velocity of the bullet," said Gleb Berestevich.
“Due to the wear of the bore of the barrel, the initial speed of the bullet is reduced.
However, after processing the VKP(b), this important parameter is restored, returning the ammunition to its former striking abilities, ”the scientist explained.
In addition, the use of the VKP(b) makes it possible to reduce the time for cleaning weapons by 4-5 times, which is important with a high intensity of the use of weapons in field and combat conditions.
After contamination (copper plating), the restoration of the bores is ensured by shooting from three to seven "health bullets" - this is how scientists call the ammunition processed by the CPSU (b).
Berestevich pointed out a certain difficulty: it is necessary to apply the composition to each bullet manually.
For example, during tests, specialists from the Air Force Academy dipped ammunition into grease, which is almost impossible to do in combat conditions.
In this regard, scientists have proposed a new method for manufacturing a “health bullet”, in which VKP(b) is applied to the edge between the cartridge and the sleeve.
Stand "health bullets" at the Alabino training ground (Moscow region)
© RT / Alexey Zakvasin
According to Andrey Agafonov, in order to launch mass production of the VPK-AZ line, it is necessary to carry out development work on the basis of specialized organizations of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
All components necessary for the manufacture of formulations are exclusively domestic.
In an RT commentary, the founder of the Military Russia portal, Dmitry Kornev, highly appreciated the development of the engineers of the Air Force Academy.
According to the expert, the Russian army needs the entire range of military-industrial complex-AZ.
“Such additives are needed by all types and types of troops.
These compositions will bring the greatest benefit to the ground forces, where internal combustion engines are most often used.
These engines often fail for a variety of reasons, while their repair is a very time-consuming task.
It is generally unrealistic to return the internal combustion engine to service in the field, if the breakdown is serious.
Such equipment has to be somehow evacuated from the front line or abandoned, ”said Kornev.
As the expert emphasized, the issues of extending the life of internal combustion engines and ensuring their operation in extreme situations are very acute in the Russian Armed Forces.
“If the Air Force Academy is not mistaken in its calculations, then thanks to the VPK-AZ, the operational and combat potential of Russian military equipment will indeed increase significantly.
A similar conclusion can be drawn with regard to domestic UAVs, where internal combustion engines are installed, ”Kornev emphasized.
A graduate of the Kazan Higher Tank Command School, Major General of the Reserve Vladimir Bogatyrev, in a commentary on RT, called versatility an important advantage of the VPK-AZ.
In his opinion, the wide practical application of the entire range of lubricants will be "a big step forward in terms of the durability of the internal combustion engine."
“The process of improving fuel and lubricants should not stop.
And the special operation once again showed that it is not always possible to service equipment in a timely manner in combat conditions.
The compositions created by the Air Force Academy are definitely needed by our Armed Forces.
This is really a breakthrough development, ”concluded Bogatyrev.