Effects of Friction Heat on the Tribological Properties of the Woven Self–lubricating Liner

Abstract

In the dry-sliding process of the woven self-lubricating liner which is used in the self-lubricating spherical plain bearing, the friction heat plays an important role in the tribological performances of the liner. It has important value to study on the relationship between tribological performances of the liner and the friction heat. Unfortunately, up to now, published work on this relationship is quite scarce. Therefore, the effect of friction heat on the tribological performances of the liner was investigated in the present work. The tribological behaviors of the liner were evaluated by using the high temperature end surface wear tester. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to examine the morphologies of worn surfaces of the liner and study the failure modes. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed to study the behaviors of the wear debris. The temperature rise on the worn surface was calculated according to classical models. SEM observation shows that the dominating wear mechanism for the liner is mainly affected by friction shear force, contact pressure and friction heat. Higher fusion heat for the wear debris than that for the pure polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) indicates that the PTFE is the main portion of the wear debris, and, the PTFE in the wear debris shows a higher crystallisation degree owing to the effects of friction shear force and the friction heat. Combining the calculated temperature rise results with the wear rate of the liner, it can be concluded that the effects of temperature rise on the tribological performances of the liner become more obvious when the temperature rise exceeds the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the PTFE. The wear resistance of the liner deteriorates dramatically when the temperature rise approaches to the melting point (Ton) of the PTFE. The tribological performances of the liner can be improved when the temperature rise exceeds Tg but is far lower than Ton. The present study on the relationship between the temperature rise and the tribological performances of the liner may provide the basis for further understanding of the wear mechanisms of the liner as well as the relationship between the formation of the PTFE transfer film and the friction heat during the dry-sliding of the liner.