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updated 8/27/2020

While the recession of our Moon from the Earth may slow and even stop,

(see When will the Moon reach escape velocity?)

binary star systems will

(1) never stop experiencing mutual tidal forces, (2) continuously experience loss of mass and gravitational attraction, (3) lose energy by gravitational wave radiation.

(see On lifetime of binary stars due to orbital decay by gravitational wave radiation)

Assuming all these three mechanisms are extant, can binary stars break away from each other?

The one comment so far notes that LIGO measures effects of the convergence of gravitational bodies, that larger orbits have more energy, and dissipation of energy will reduce the orbital distances. I would appreciate an appropriate reference.

The moon is retreating from the Earth which is said to be mostly due to tidal-related dissipation. This phenomenon seems opposite the commentor's view.

A mechanism relating to binary stars, especially those that whose orbits bring them close together, is a possible exchange of mass. An expert might tell us how this exchange might affect orbits. If indeed the stars are close, then we might expect a decay in orbit due to simple drag.

I assume "expansion of the universe" is not a factor in these scales of distance and time. Thanks to all for your time on this question.

Incredible II
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No, binary stars will not escape each other. The Moon is receding from the Earth due to tidal braking. In turn this is happening because the Earth spins faster than the Moon orbits. The Moon will not recede forever - once the Moon is tidally locked to the Earth that will be the end of recession.

Stars can also become tidally locked.

More pertinently: two systems are only bound (and systems such as the Earth/Moon, or two binary stars are definitely bound) if their total energy is negative. If they become unbound, then their total energy becomes positive. By conservation of energy, this cannot happen unless a 3rd body is involved that injects energy into the system.

Allure
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