• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.147-153
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• 2016

Friction reduction between machine components is important for improving their efficiency and lifespan. In recent years, surface texturing has received considerable attention as a viable means to enhance the efficiency and tribological performance of highly sliding mechanical components such as parallel thrust bearings, mechanical face seals, and piston rings. In this study, we perform lubrication analysis to investigate the effect of dimple shapes and orientations on the lubrication characteristics of a surface textured parallel thrust bearing. Numerical analysis involves solving the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations using a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT. We use dimples consisting of hemispherical and different semiellipsoidal orientations for simulation. We compare pressure and streamline distributions, load capacity, friction force, and leakage flowrate for different numbers of dimples and orientations. We find that the dimple shapes, orientations, and their numbers starting from an inlet influence the lubrication characteristics. The results show that partial texturing of the bearing inlet region, and the ellipsoidal dimples with the major axis aligned along the lubricant flow direction exhibit the best lubrication characteristics in terms of higher load capacity and lower friction. The results can be used in the design of optimum dimple characteristics for parallel thrust bearings, for which further research is required.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.235-243
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• 2023

This paper presents the fabrication process of water-lubricated plastic bearings. Plastic bearings require good mechanical properties and tribological properties as well as elasticity and shock resistance, especially when lubricated in dirty water conditions. In this study, sleeve-type plastic bearings are produced by winding a prepreg sheet, which primary contains nitrile rubber (NBR)-modified epoxy, self-lubricating fillers, and various types of lattice-structured reinforcing fibers such as carbon, Aramid, and polyethylene terephthalate. A thermosetting epoxy is chemically modified with NBR to impart elasticity and low-friction characteristics in water conditions. Experimental investigations are conducted to examine the mechanical and tribological characteristics of the developed bearing materials, and the results are compared with the characteristics of a commercial plastic bearing (Thordon SXL), well known as a water-lubricated bearing. A Thordon bearing (mainly composed of polyurethane) exhibits an extremely low load-bearing capacity and is thus only suitable for medium loading (1~10MPa). The tribological characteristics of the test materials are evaluated through Falex block-on-ring (LFW-1) friction and wear tests. The results indicate that friction exhibited by the carbon-fiber-reinforced NBR-10wt.%-modified epoxy composite material, incorporated with the addition of 20wt.% UHMWPE and 6wt.% paraffin wax, is lower than that of the Thorden bearings, whereas its wear resistance surpass that of Thorden ones. Because of these features, the load carrying capacity of the fabricated composite (>10MPa) is higher than that of the Thorden bearings. These results confirm the applicability of water-lubricated plastic bearing materials developed in this study.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.228-234
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• 2023

In this study, reciprocating wear tests are performed on AISI 52100 bearing steel to investigate its tribological behavior in a hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) water solution. The h-BN-based aqueous lubricant is prepared using an atoxic procedure called ultrasonic sonication in pure water. Ball-on-flat reciprocating sliding experiments are conducted, where the ball is slewed on a fixed flat at 50-㎛ displacement. The lubricating behavior of h-BN is compared with that of deionized (DI) water. Results show that the friction coefficient is higher in h-BN testing than that in DI tests, but the results are equalized as the friction coefficient reaches a stable level. Scanning electron microscopic images reveal significant material loss in the center and mild abrasion on the edge of the wear scar in h-BN tests. However, these effects are minor in DI water situations. The results of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy show that considerable oxidation occurs in the central zone of the wear scar in h-BN cases with strong adhesion and material removal. These findings reveal the importance of determining ideal circumstances that can tolerate material friction and wear.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2011

The current study investigated the friction property of angle and width effect for micro-scale grooved crosshatch pattern on SKD11 steel surface against bearing steel using pin-on-disk type. The samples fabricated by photolithography process and then these are carry out the electrochemical etching process. We discuss the friction property due to the influence of a hatched-angle and a width of groove on contact surface. We could be explained the lubrication mechanism for a Stribeck curve. So It was found that the friction coefficient depend on an angle of the crosshatch on contact surface. It was thus verified that micro-scale crosshatch grooved pattern could affect the friction reduction. Also, it is play an important a width of groove to be improved the friction property. I was found that friction property has a relationship between a width and an angle for micro-grooved pattern.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.305-310
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• 2009

Laser surface texturing (LST) methods are applied recently to generate micro-dimples in machine components having parallel sliding surfaces such as thrust bearings, mechanical face seals and piston rings, etc. And it is experimentally reported by several researchers that the micro-dimpled bearing surfaces can reduce friction force. Until now, however, theoretical results for various dimple parameters are not fully presented. In this paper, a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT is used to investigate the effect of dimple depth on the lubrication characteristics of parallel thrust bearing. The results show that the pressure, velocity and density distributions within dimples are highly affected by dimple depths and cavitation conditions. Adoption of micro-dimple on the bearing surface can reduce the friction force highly and its levels are affected by dimple depth. The numerical methods and results can be use in design of optimum dimple characteristics to improve thrust bearing performance.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.916-921
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• 2009

In this study, lubrication characteristics of sliding members were compared with the change of the hardness of friction surfaces and the application of nano-oil. The materials of the specimens were gray cast iron (AISI 35, AISI 60) and nickel chromium molybdenum steel (AISI 4320). The Friction coefficients and the temperature variations of on the frictional surfaces were measured by disk-on-disk tribotester under the condition of fixed rotating speed. The friction surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). In the results, the friction coefficients of the disk surface were increased as hardness difference was increased. The friction coefficient lubricated in nano-oil was less than mineral oil. This is because a spherical nano particle plays a tiny ball bearing between the frictional surfaces, improved the lubrication characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.1 s.190
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• pp.79-84
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• 2007

Some surface pattern of tribological application is an attractive technology of engineered surface. Therefore, friction reduction is considered to be necessary for improved efficiency of machine. This study investigated the effect of friction property for angles of micro-crosshatch groove surface pattern on bearing steel using pin-on-disk test. We obtain sample which can be fabricated by photolithography process. We discuss the friction property depend on an angle of crosshatch groove surface pattern. We can verify the lubrication mechanism as Stribeck curve, which has a relationship between the friction coefficient and a dimensionless parameter under the lubrication condition. It was found that the friction coefficient was related to angle of crosshatch groove pattern on contact surface.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.165-166
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• 2006

Surface pattern of tribological applications is an attractive technology of engineered surface. Therefore, friction reduction is considered to be necessary for improved efficiency of machines. This study investigated the effect of friction property fur angles of micro-scale crosshatch grooved surface pattern on bearing steel flat mated with pin-on-disk. We obtain sample which can be fabricated by photolithography process. We discuss friction property depend on an angle of cross-hatch grooved pattern. We can verify the lubrication mechanism as a Stribeck curve, which has a relationship between the friction coefficient and a dimensionless parameter under the lubrication condition. It was found that the friction coefficient was related to angle of crosshatch on surface, even when surface pattern was the same density.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.55-62
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• 1996

Present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of composition ratio and temperature on the friction and wear of PTFE-polyimide composites under the atmosphere of nitrogen gas. The load range was 0.62-3.46 MPa, and the temperature range was room temperature and 200$^{\circ}$C. To mention some of the notable results, friction coefficient of PTFE 100% varied relatively little within the given load and temperature ranges. Polyimide 100% showed the lowest friction coefficient of 0.06 at 200$^{\circ}$C among all the experiments. PTFE 80%-polyimide 20% showed the lowest wear factors on the whole. Friction coefficient of PTFE 20%-polyimide 80% varied from the highest 0.35 to the lowest 0.09 among all the materials at room temperature, and showed almost the same lowest values with polyimide 100% at 200$^{\circ}$C. Suggestion of friction and wear mechanisms of the materials was tried to explain the observed phenomena including above mentioned results.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.797-802
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• 1997

The use of carbon materials in mechanical components such as bearings, seals, and bushings that do not require lubricants is increasing rapidly. This paper reports on establishing the optimal condition for resin-bonded carbon materials. We fixed the content ratio of materials, which include graphite powder and diatomite as a lubricant modifier and a friction modifier, respectably, with resin used as a bonding material. We then produced bushings using hot-pressing within the temperature range of resin curing. The properties of bushing, the friction coefficient, wear rate and the mechanical strengths are discussed in relation to the content of respective materials, with correlation of friction coefficient and sliding distance. Finally, we examined the friction coefficient changes according to the applied load on bushing and the friction coefficient changes according to contact speed of bushing.