Articles

TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF POLYMER BEARINGS UNDER DRY AND WATER LUBRICATION

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Abstract

This study attempts to evaluate the performance of polymer journal bearings (PET and UHMWPE) sliding against Inconel stainless steel in both dry and lubricated condition. Four types of ‘lubricant’ are included: distilled water; demineralized water; tap water and river water. The tests were carried out in a so called “Stribeck” configuration with a projected pressure of about 0.3 MPa at room temperature and sliding speed ranging from 0 to 1.07 m/s respectively. The study indicates that polymer bearings with four types of water lubricant give better tribological behaviour compared to those in dry sliding contact. Besides, with water lubrication, UHMWPE shows low friction at starting, but it does not go down much over the course of the tests. Meanwhile, although PET indicates quite higher friction at the beginning, it then shows a clearly decreasing trend.

Keywords: water lubrication, polymer bearings, friction

How to Cite:

Nguyen, T. & Sukumaran, J. & De Pauw, J. & De Baets, P., (2013) “TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF POLYMER BEARINGS UNDER DRY AND WATER LUBRICATION”, International Journal of Sustainable Construction and Design 4(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/scad.v4i2.1048