Abstract
From the earliest incorporation of graphite with metal oxides or metal powders to form porous bearings of low mechanical strength, progressive improvements led to the production of intentionally non-porous graphited metal bearings containing relatively high volumes of finely distributed graphite. These higher-strength bearing materials were achieved in the middle of this century by the employment of hot-pressing techniques.
The latest development in this range of materials has seen a reversion to methods of double cold pressing and sintering, which have been facilitated by the enhanced ductility gained from modifications to composition and microstructure. The resultant bearings are produced to finished dimensions without machining, thus affording economies over hot-pressed materials.
Some details regarding the properties of such bearings are given and typical applications are described.
Notes
* Manuscript received 18 March 1969. Contribution to a Symposium on “Lubrication, Friction, and Wear (Tribology) in Powder Metallurgy” to be held in Eastbourne on 24-26 November 1969. Based on a paper presented at the Second European Symposium on Powder Metallurgy, Stuttgart, May 1968.