Abstract
This paper describes two technical ways to produce self-lubricating multi-layered slide bearings for severe environmental and loading conditions. To realize bearings with polymer back and polymer sliding layer (Polymer-Polymer Bearing or PPB), thermoplastic filament winding combined with injection molding was used. For the manufacturing of Metal-Polymer Hybrid Bearings (MPHB), hot pressing technique was applied. The sliding layer of both types of bearings consisted of tribologically modified thermoplastic materials. In case of the PPBs, a commingled yarn with Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-, Aramid-, and Polyamide (PA)-fibers was utilized. Different Poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK)-based compounds were chosen as coating materials for the WHBs. Among conventional filler materials like carbon fibers, PTFE and graphite, novel nanometer-sized particles were employed for the modification of the PEEK-matrix.
The results proved the outstanding tribological behavior of the new developed slide bearings. Testing of the PPB in a journal bearing tester indicated its good performance in terms of low coefficient of friction, low wear and high thermal stability. Also the WHBs with the nanoparticle-modified PEEK sliding layer showed a very good tribological performance compared to commercially available materials, especially under higher testing temperatures and loadings.