Study on the tribological characteristics of solid lubricants embedded tin-bronze bearings

The friction and wear characteristics of graphite, MoS2, and PTFE embedded tin-bronze bearings were studied using a pin-on-disc tester. The results in dicated that solid lubricants decreased and stabilized the friction coeffic ient, and decreased the wear rate by two to three orders of magnitude. When the content of solid lubricants, PTFE mixed with graphite, was 20-40%, the performance of the solid lubricants embedded bearing (SLEB) was the best. Wear scar was analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AF;S), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results sh ow that the transfer films of solid lubricants reduce adhesion between the SLEBs and the mating material, and the wear mechanism of SLEBs changes to f atigue and adhesive wear. The main reason for fatigue wear is microcracks e xpanding at Pb points in SLEBs. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.