DRY SELF-LUBRICATING COMPOSITES

Chopped strand carbon fibers, glass fibers and their hybrids were used to reinforce an epoxy matrix to which additives of PTFE, graphite and molybdenum disulfide were used for producing a dry self-lubricating m aterial. Their tribology properties were studied using testing machine s of thrust and journal radial. Also, the PV value, friction coefficie nt, wear rate and the contact surface temperatures were determined. Th e compression strength of the bush ring and the impact strength of mat erial were evaluated. The surfaces of wear were investigated. The mode of fracture mechanism is proposed according to the specimens morpholo gy. The relationship between friction coefficient and loading correlat ed well with the Myoshis equation in the case of a backing material. T his study provided an optimal approach of making dry wear bearings by glass fibers backing at low friction coefficient. Copyright (C) 1996 E lsevier Science Limited