• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1-6
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• 1998

An experimental study was performed to discover the effect of environmental conditions on the rolling resistance behavior of pure silver and lead coated 52100 bearing steel. Pure silver and lead coatings were produced by a thermal evaporation coating method. Experiments using a thrust ball bearing-typed rolling test-rig were performed under vacuum, dry air and controlled humidity conditions. Results showed that agglomeration of particles were suppressed in vacuum environment and resulted in low and stable rolling resistance by shakedown phenomena. Also, humidity related closely to the agglomeration of particles and the rolling resistance after the failure of coated layer.