Grease degradation in a bearing simulation device

In this study, a ball-on-disc traction (MTM) device has been used to degrade grease under controlled thermal and shear conditions over an extended period. The tests were run under both fully flooded and semi-starved conditions to simulate the lubricant supply levels found in bearings. A simple lithium hydroxystearate grease with and without an additive package was used. At the end of the test Infrared micro-reflection spectra were taken from the track and surrounding grease to determine lubricant film composition. These results were compared to IR reflection analysis of lubricant films in used bearings. The MTM results show that in the semi-starved tests the grease “runs-in” during the first few cycles as the friction coefficient drops giving a low, stable value comparable to the fully flooded condition. During initial overolling the grease is shear degraded releasing mobile lubricant, which replenishes the contact and reduces starvation. IR analysis of the lubricant film in and around the track has shown evidence of the local degradation, the formation of thickener-rich layers and new chemical species. The unadditised grease failed towards the end of the test due to incipient starvation, which was exacerbated by the formation of oxidised thickener deposits in the track. The IR spectrum from this film was very similar to that found in some bearing samples.     

Film Thickness of Mechanically Worked Lubricating Grease at Very Low Speeds

Several different types of commercially available greases, aged in a roll stability tester, have been tested in a ball-on-disc machine where the film thickness was measured using the interferometry method. The grease film thickness at very low speed is thicker than the base oil film thickness due to the contribution of the thickener in this regime, which practically vanishes at higher speeds. The (mechanical) aging process reduces the thickener material, decreasing the grease film thickness at very low speeds (entrainment speed less than 0.01 m/s) with aging time, whereas no significant difference was found at higher speeds where the grease film thickness still approached the calculated base oil film thickness.     

石墨干膜润滑剂在碳钢表面摩擦磨损性能试验研究*

传统油或脂润滑剂在极端工况环境下无法满足碳钢类零件的减摩要求,采用干膜润滑剂是提高极端工况环境下碳钢表面摩擦磨损性能的可行性方法。采用超声波分散方法制备以石墨粉末为基体的干膜润滑剂,使用压力喷涂技术使其沉积在碳钢试件表面,在端面摩擦试验仪中开展干摩擦和石墨干膜润滑剂润滑下摩擦磨损性能对比性试验研究。试验结果表明：石墨干膜润滑剂在碳钢表面的沉积效果较好,沉积的石墨干膜润滑剂具有较好的润滑性能,可以有效地保护碳钢表面不被过度磨损;喷涂石墨干膜润滑剂的碳钢试件的工作寿命随着压力载荷和主轴转速的增大而缩短,负载和滑动速度的联合作用会加速涂层向稳定方向的过渡;磨损过程中形成的微观润滑剂颗粒会形成颗粒流润滑,适当添加石墨颗粒粉末可能会延长润滑剂正常发挥减摩作用的时间。制备的石墨干膜润滑剂为碳钢在极端工况环境下的减摩提供了支持。     

On the film thickness behaviour of polymer greases at low and high speeds

Experimental batches of polymer thickened greases, as well as their base and bleed-oils were tribologically characterized through film thickness measurements over a wide range of entrainment speeds on a ball-on-disc test rig using optical interferometry. The results are in agreement with previous observations of several authors. Under fully flooded conditions and low speed it was observed that thickener lumps enter the contact producing a high film thickness plateau. The transition speed at which the film thickness increases with decreasing speed is dependent on the thickener content and operating temperature. At moderate to high speeds, all the tested greases show a film thickness much higher than the base and bleed-oils, even though the bleed-oil׳s film thickness is closer to the grease׳s.     

Friction torque in grease lubricated thrust ball bearings

Thrust ball bearings lubricated with several different greases were tested on a modified Four-Ball Machine, where the Four-Ball arrangement was replaced by a bearing assembly. The friction torque and operating temperatures in a thrust ball bearing were measured during the tests. At the end of each test a grease sample was analyzed through ferrographic techniques in order to quantify and evaluate bearing wear.A rolling bearing friction torque model was used and the coefficient of friction in full film lubrication was determined for each grease, depending on the operating conditions.The experimental results obtained showed that grease formulation had a very significant influence on friction torque and operating temperature. The friction torque depends on the viscosity of the grease base oil, on its nature (mineral, ester, PAO, etc.), on the coefficient of friction in full film conditions, but also on the interaction between grease thickener and base oil, which affected contact replenishment and contact starvation, and thus influenced the friction torque.     

Contributions of Mobile and Bonded Molecules to Dynamic Friction of Nanometer-Thick Perfluoropolyether Films Coated on Magnetic Disk Surfaces

To protect the interface against intermittent head–disk contact in hard disk drives, nanometer-thick perfluoropolyether (PFPE) films consisting of both “bonded” and “mobile” molecules are applied on the disk surfaces. Because of their different adsorption states and mobility, the bonded and mobile molecules are supposed to contribute differently to friction properties, which directly impact the stability of ultra-low flying head–disk interfaces. By measuring the friction force at light loads and low to high speeds as a function of bonded and mobile film thicknesses, we studied the contributions of bonded and mobile molecules to the dynamic friction of nanometer-thick PFPE films. We found that the friction coefficient of lubricant films without or with less bonded molecules increased as a power function of sliding speed, whereas that of lubricant films with more bonded molecules increased logarithmically with sliding speed. We suggest that these results can be explained by the following mechanisms: the dynamic friction of lubricant films without and with less bonded molecules is dominated by shear thinning behavior of mobile molecules, while that of lubricant films with more bonded molecules is governed by bonded molecules which lead to boundary lubrication.     

Starvation and Reflow in a Grease-Lubricated Elastohydrodynamic Contact

The lubrication mechanisms of a grease in a rolling-element bearing has been studied through the measurement of film thickness in a rolling point contact. To simulate bearing conditions the contact runs under fully starved conditions; there is no attempt to maintain bulk flow of the grease into the inlet using an external supply. In consequence the film thickness drops off rapidly as the contact progressively starves. After a few minutes rolling (at constant speed) an equilibrium film thickness is attained which has two components: a residual film (h_R) comprised of degraded grease thickener and a hydrodynamic component (h_EHD) due to the liquid phase from the grease. The hydrodynamic contribution represents a balance between lubricant lost from the contact and replenishment from the grease close to the track. The ability of the grease to replenish the rolling track has been inferred from measurements of lubricant reflow around the static contact. These results are discussed in light of current starvation and grease lubrication models.     

Solid Film Lubrication at High Temperature

The behavior of several solid film lubricants has been experimentally established as a function of temperature. These films are formed of a suspension of lubricant particles (graphite, molybdenum disulfide) in a thermosetting resin baked onto a hard surface. The test consists of heating such a layer and continually observing the friction coefficient until failure. Sliding conditions of high unit loading and low rubbing velocity were chosen to provide a comparison between the films. They were evaluated as to the highest temperature for which the friction coefficient remained low and subsequently as to the number of load cycles sustained at temperature before an abrupt increase in friction. Results for all films were similar in that failure was caused by a breakdown of the binder rather than the lubricating particles and that the minimum friction coefficient (～ 0.03) was observed just before the film failure at temperatures as high as 1200° F.     

Lubricant film formation properties of alkyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate ionic liquids

The film thickness and friction properties of four imidazolium ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methyl tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate and 1-hexyl-3-methyl tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate) were measured for mixed rolling-sliding conditions and the results compared to an additised mineral oil. Film thickness results showed that three of the fluids demonstrated classical EHL behaviour; however, the 1-butyl-3-methyl fluids gave anomalously thick, time-dependent films at low speeds (<0.3 m/s). Post-test inspection of the specimens revealed a loosely bound brown film deposited in the track. Film formation appeared to originate in the bulk fluid where brown “fibrous” agglomerations were observed. These were flocculated by shear flow and deposited in the track after passing through the contact. Overall the RTIL friction coefficients were less than the mineral oil for all conditions investigated. In the absence of thick film formation all RTILs gave a similar friction coefficient of 0.03 in the boundary regime, which is thought to be due to electrical double layer formation. In the fluid film regime traction was determined by the nature of the anion.     

Influence of grease rheology on thrust ball bearings friction torque

The friction torque and the operating temperatures in a thrust ball bearing were measured for seven different types of greases, including three biodegradable greases having low toxicity. These friction torque tests were performed using a modified Four-Ball machine.Rheological evaluations of the lubricating greases were made using a rheometer. Bleed oils were extracted from the greases and the dynamic viscosities were measured.In order to compare the performance of the lubricant greases in terms of friction, the grease characteristics were related to experimental results, showing that the interaction between thickener and base oil have strong influences in the bearing friction torque.     

Evaluation of Ion-Sputtered Molybdenum Disulfide Bearings for Spacecraft Gimbals

High-density, sputtered molybdenum disulfide films (MoS₂) were investigated as lubricants for the next generation of spacecraft gimbal bearings where low torque signatures and long life are required. Low friction in a vacuum environment, virtually no out-gassing, insensitivity to low temperature, and radiation resistance of these lubricant films are valued in such applications. One hundred and twenty five thousand hours of accumulated bearing lest time were obtained on 24 pairs of flight-quality bearings ion-sputtered with three types of advanced MoS₂ films. Life tests were conducted in a vacuum over a simulated duty cycle for a space pay bad gimbal. Optimum retainer and ball material composition were investigated. Comparisons were made with test bearings lubricated with liquid space lubricants.

Self-lubricating PTFE retainers were required for long life, i.e., > 40 million gimbal cycles. Bearings with polyimide retainers, silicon nitride ceramic balls, or steel balls sputtered with MoS₂ film suffered early torque failure, irrespective of the type of race-sputtered MoS₂ film. Failure generally resulted from excess film or retainer debris deposited in the ball track which tended to jam the bearing. Both grease lubricated and the better MoS₂ film lubricated bearings produced long lives, although the torque with liquid lubricants was lower and less irregular.     

The Effect of FeS Solid Lubricant on the Tribological Properties of Bearing Steel under Grease Lubrication

In order to improve the tribological properties of 52100 steel under grease lubrication, FeS solid lubricant was used in two ways. Low-temperature ion-sulfurization technology was utilized to prepare solid lubricant iron sulfide (FeS) films on the surface of 52100 steel, and FeS particles were mixed into the lithium grease as additive. The friction and wear properties were examined systematically on a “ball-on-disc” testing machine. The results showed that the tribological properties of bearing steel under grease lubrication can be improved either by using ion-sulfurization technique or by adding FeS microparticles into the grease. The tribological performance of sulfurized surface lubricated by grease is better than that of a plain surface lubricated by grease containing FeS microparticles at lower load and speed. The plain surface lubricated by the grease containing FeS micropaticles possesses better antiwear property under harsher conditions. The mechanism of the experimental results is discussed in detail.     

Effects of Ethanol Contamination on Friction and Elastohydrodynamic Film Thickness of Engine Oils

The use of ethanol as engine fuel has increased for environmental reasons, both in flex-fuel engines and as increasing amounts of ethanol blended with gasoline in conventional engines. This article describes an investigation into the effects of ethanol contamination of lubricants during engine use with ethanol fuel. To facilitate this, a new technique was developed to measure small amounts of ethanol in lubricants. Elastohydrodynamic film thickness measurements and Stribeck curves were obtained for Group I base and formulated oils containing small added amounts of ethanol. The effect of the water present in hydrated ethanol was evaluated by carrying out tests using both hydrated and anhydrous ethanol. Measurements were also carried out using a Group II base oil with added ethanol. These measurements showed that in the low entrainment speed region, where the elastohydrodynamic film is very thin so that boundary lubrication prevails, the addition of ethanol produced a boundary film, which was not present for the base oils. By contrast, the addition of ethanol to formulated oil reduced film thickness in all lubrication regimes. The friction tests showed friction reduction due to addition of ethanol to the base oil, in particular at low speeds. For the formulated oil, ethanol reduced friction at high speeds, which was associated with a reduction in the viscosity of the lubricant, but at low speeds, ethanol reduced the formation of a boundary layer, increasing friction. The presence of water in hydrated ethanol did not significantly change the film thickness and friction when compared with anhydrous ethanol.     

含氟润滑油脂减摩性能及摩擦机制分析

研究分析了聚四氟乙烯润滑油脂的减摩性能,得出了聚四氟乙烯润滑油脂摩擦因数与转速、温度和载荷变化关系。利用SEM和EDS对3种润滑剂摩擦膜进行形貌和能谱分析,认为聚四氟乙烯润滑油脂减摩是表面物理吸附膜和化学迁移膜共同作用的结果。     

基于推力轴承结构的润滑膜厚与摩擦因数测量系统

开发一种基于推力轴承结构的润滑膜厚与摩擦因数测量系统。该测量系统在较低速度下可实现膜厚与摩擦因数的同步测量，在较高速度下可通过保持架固定和玻璃盘回转模式实现润滑油膜测量，通过保持架自由回转和玻璃盘固定模式实现摩擦因数的测量。通过测量不同载荷下的润滑油膜厚度随速度变化曲线，以及与单点接触的测量结果进行定量对比，验证了该测量系统的可靠性。测量得到的摩擦因数曲线表明了滚动体打滑现象的存在。该测量装置为润滑剂特性和滚动轴承润滑特性研究提供了一种评价方法。     

镀银膜轴承在油和脂润滑下的摩擦性能

试验研究镀银膜轴承在干摩擦、润滑油和润滑脂复合润滑下的摩擦性能。试验结果显示:在中低转速下,镀银膜轴承在银膜和液体润滑剂(油和脂)复合润滑下的摩擦因数仅相当于银膜干摩擦下摩擦因数的10%左右,且变化平稳;在高转速下,试验轴承在银膜和液体润滑剂复合润滑下的摩擦因数随转速增加而增加,且银膜与润滑脂复合润滑条件下的摩擦因数随转速增加得更快,但仍小于银膜干摩擦下的摩擦因数;镀银膜轴承在银膜和液体润滑剂(油和脂)的复合润滑下的磨损小于银膜干摩擦时的磨损;中低转速下,镀银膜轴承在液体润滑剂(油和脂)复合润滑下的摩擦磨损性能远优于银膜干摩擦时的摩擦磨损性能。     

Rolling Bearing Performance and Film Formation Behavior of Four Multiply Alkylated Cyclopentane (MAC) Base Greases for Space Applications

Four multiply alkylated cyclopentane (MAC)-based greases, used for space applications, were used for rolling contact fatigue tests employing thrust ball bearings. These greases were R2000, ML, MU, and 5200 and were made from the same base oil 2001A. Each grease had a different thickener, which were sodium soap, Li soap, urea, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), respectively. The effect of the grease thickener on the ball bearings' fatigue life in vacuum and atmospheric environments was investigated via testing. For the greases R2000, MU, and ML it was found that the oil film formation in the experiments performed under vacuum conditions declined remarkably in comparison to under atmospheric conditions. For the 5200 grease, the oil film formation was almost the same as under atmospheric conditions. These results were supported by the occurrence of cage wear in the ball bearing fatigue tests. In the absence of sufficient films, high wear rates were measured.     

Running Torque of Ball Bearings with Polymer Lubricant (Effect of the Enclosure Form of Polymer Lubricant)

This article deals with the running torque of ball bearings with polymer lubricant (solid composite material composed of plastic impregnated with a large amount of oil or grease). The results of the experiment showed that the measured running torque of ball bearings with polymer lubricant was affected by the enclosure form of the polymer lubricant. With regard to ball bearings with different enclosure forms of the polymer lubricant, the measured running torque difference was not affected significantly by the rotational speeds or the axial loads. The analytical results showed that the running torque difference was caused mainly by the friction (depending on the enclosure form of the polymer lubricant) between the balls and the polymer lubricant (or cage).     

Nanotribological properties of novel lubricants for magnetic tapes

Two classes of novel lubricants, perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) and ionic liquids (ILs), were deposited on metal film magnetic tapes. The adhesive force and coefficient of friction of lubricated and unlubricated tapes were investigated at the nanoscale with an atomic force microscope (AFM) as a function of various humidity and temperature conditions. Microscale tests with a ball-on-flat tribometer were also performed in order to study the length-scale effects on friction. Wear at ultralow loads was simulated and the lubricant removal mechanism was investigated by monitoring the friction force, surface potential and contact resistance with the AFM. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiments were conducted to determine the chemical species that affect intermolecular bonding and as an aid in interpreting how the lubricant film tribological properties vary with the environmental conditions. Z-TETRAOL, one of the PFPEs, was found to exhibit the lowest adhesion and friction among the lubricant films studied. The ionic liquid 1,1′-(pentane-1,5-diyl)bis(3-hydroxyethyl-1H-imidazolium-1-yl) di[bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide)] exhibited comparable nanotribological properties with the PFPEs. This is attributed to the presence of hydroxyl groups at its chain ends, which can hydrogen bond with the surface similar to PFPEs.     

Low friction wear resistant electroconductive gold and silver nanoperiod multilayer solid lubricant films

Abstract

To develop new solid lubricant films based on low friction multilayer model, nanoperiod Au and Ag multilayer films are deposited. The results of nanoindentation tests reveal that multilayer films exhibit a higher elastic modulus, a higher hardness and a lower modulus of dissipation energy than single layer films. From the ball on disc tribological test, the friction coefficient of multilayer film μ is as low as ～0·05. The friction life cycle of the nanoperiod multilayer films is longer than those of single layer films. The electrical resistivity of nanoperiod multilayer films induced by sliding is a little higher, and the change in that is less than that of single layer films.