Experimental Study on the Tribological Properties of Powder Lubrication under Plane Contact

Abstract

Powder lubrication has been studied using a plane contact tribometer. Four kinds of powders—polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), graphite, MoS₂, and ball-like copper—were used during the experiments. The results show that powder can be introduced into frictional clearance without any special treatment. The powder's physical properties significantly influence the tribological characteristics in the powder lubrication. The friction coefficient and wear are obviously decreased when the powders are PTFE, graphite, and MoS₂, which are excellent solid lubricants. At lower load capacity, powder lubrication using ball-like copper had certain antifriction effects, but it rapidly became worse with increasing load capacity. Observation with optical microscopy showed that the lubricant film is dynamically formed on the rubbing surfaces in most experiments.

KEY WORDS:

• Powder Lubrication
• Plane Contact
• Physical Properties
• Powder Film

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors appreciate the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant 50775060.

Review led by Fred Higgs