Low friction and high load-carrying capacity of a slider bearing with an inhomogeneous surface affinity

Abstract

In fluid lubrication systems, lower friction means less energy consumption, whereas higher film thickness means higher load-carrying capacity and lower probability of wear. Traditionally, friction coefficient increases with oil film thickness, which cannot meet the design requirements of modern equipment, such as MEMS. In this study, we attempt to tackle this challenge by introducing an inhomogeneous surface affinity on a static slider bearing surface. A model combining the limiting shear stress and slip length is adopted to analyse the effect of boundary slip on the hydrodynamic performance of a slider bearing. The model is firstly verified by comparing the calculated results with the experimental data, and then parameter study is conducted. Results indicate that lower friction and higher film thickness can be realised simultaneously by a specific design of the inhomogeneous surface affinity.