Abstract
Experiments have been carried out on full-film journal bearings lubricated with a low-vapor pressure liquid metal (gallium-based alloy) in argon and high vacuum. Plain and spiral-groove bearings of relatively small size and without additional liquid sealing were selected. The effect of reactive gases on the liquid-metal confinement and the influence of liquid-metal properties on the loci of the shaft centers were studied. For plain bearings, it is found that the shaft center locus followed a straight line with a load angle of π/2. Subambient pressures of 25 atmospheres magnitude were achieved in the metal lubricant film. Liquid-metal leakage did not occur up to a certain speed. It is shown that Ga-based alloys can effectively be applied as a reliable lubricant in spiral-groove bearings under nonoxidizing conditions. Surface tension and cohesion strength of the metal liquid played a significant role in lubricant behavior.
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