Wear Rates of Boundary-Lubricated Cast Bronze Bearings

Abstract

An experimental study, supplemented by a thermal analysis, has been made to determine the frictional behavior, wear rates, and temperature rise of grease-lubricated sand-cast CDA 932 bronze bearings running against mild steel shafts under boundary lubricated conditions. The results showed that when the bearings were operating effectively, the wear factors,“K”, were essentially constant over a wide range of loads and speeds. Good correlation was obtained between the experimental bearing temperature measurements and the analytical predictions of the bearing temperature rise as a result of frictional heating. If the bearing temperatures exceeded 150 C (300 F), extremely high wear rates were obtained. At low speeds and high loads, there was often a transition region above which the wear rates and frictional characteristics of the bearing decreased to very low values. This transition appeared to be the result of the formation of some type of protective film.

Presented at the 31st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 10–13, 1976

Notes

Presented at the 31st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 10–13, 1976