New bearing materials for high speed dry operation

Abstract

Results are presented from a project to modify the design of a compressed air vane motor so that it would run equally well under completely dry conditions, or in the presence of oil or water. The solution lay in the development of a new dry bearing material composed of a mixture of polytetrafluoroethylene, glass fibre and lead, which gave very low wear rates at high sliding speeds (20 m s −1). When the standard vanes were replaced by vanes made of this material, the motor operated satisfactorily and required no further modification. The best formulation of the material gave wear rates under dry operating conditions which were as good as the standard vane material when lubricated. Some suggestions are put forward as to the reasons for the success of the preferred material.