Study on tribological and vibration performance of a new UHMWPE/graphite/NBR water lubricated bearing material

• Published in: Wear Vol. 332-333; pp. 872 - 878
• Main Authors: Zhimin, Yan, Xincong, Zhou, Hongling, Qin, Wanying, Niu, Hao, Wang, Kai, Liu, Yumin, Tang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Bearing materials; Friction; Polyethylenes; Rubber; Stick-slip; Tribological performance; Tribology; Vibration; Water lubricated; Water lubricated stern tube bearings; Stick-slip; Water lubricated stern tube bearings; Vibration; Tribological performance
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2014.12.054
• ISSN: 0043-1648

The mixture powder of Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and graphite was blended into nitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) to be modified to develop a new kind of compound water lubricated rubber bearing with cost-effective, low-friction performance. In order to study the tribological and vibration performance of the new material, a series of experiments were carried out on the test rig SSB-100. Friction coefficient and vibration characteristics under different working conditions: speed, specific pressure and temperature were acquired and analyzed by torque meter and B&K Pulse. The mechanical physical performance of the compound rubber material SPB-N has reached the requirements of Chinese ship standard CB/T769-2008. The results showed that a better tribological performance of the new material met the U.S. military standard (MIL-DTL-17901C (SH)). Stick-slip effect of the new material was induced with critical speed of 0.27m/s, which showed excellent low-speed performance. Moreover, its friction coefficient reached a minimum value at the speed of 0.54m/s. Local specific pressure of the new material was 0.7MPa. The new composite rubber material was served as a kind of water-lubricated bearing material with excellent all-round performances. •The mechanical physical performance of the material has reached CB/T769-2008.•The friction coefficient is within the prescribed scope of MIL-DTL-17901(C).•The SPB-N bearing shows an outstanding low speed performance.•Local specific pressure of the SPB-N bearing is 0.7MPa.