Tribological characteristics of two imidazolium-based room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate were investigated under high vacuum conditions. Viscositytemperature characteristics and thermogravimetric characteristics of these compounds were also nvestigated. Imidazoliumbased RTILs have relatively good viscositytemperature characteristics that are comparable to those of multiply-alkylated cyclopentane (MAC). Thermogravimetric results showed that ionic liquids have high thermal stability and low vapor pressure. Ionic liquids showed low friction andlow wear rate under high vacuum conditions, and high load-carrying capacity was observed.