Applications
The most common application for chameleon coating is in aerospace technology where the environment is always changing due to changes in altitude. On the earth the air is humid and temperature varies only slightly in consideration to other environments like space. The use of oil for reduced friction and wear, and lubrication applies to those ambient conditions only found on earth. When the frontier changes and varies to temperatures of 500-1000 degrees Celsius many of these lubrications break down at accelerated rates and thus become useless. Space satellites are under such conditions where liquid lubrication is useless due to gravity. With the help of chameleon coating, the life expectancy of satellites range from 15 to about 30 years. Chameleon coatings are also often used on hypersonic and reusable launch vehicles that require lubrication in ambient atmosphere, vacuum (space), and during re-entry (high temperature). A typical multilayer coating may use a molybdenum disulfide or DLC for low friction at ambient conditions. A layer of teflon may be used for vacuum service along with a silver or gold containing layer for high temperature lubricity.
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