Possibilities of sliding bearings properties modification by non-typical journal application

The article presents the results of investigations into the wear of slide bearings with a non-typical bearing journal. Pairs made up of elements of different hardness operating together and journals of different design were studied. The possibility of reducing the wear due to contaminant hard particles in the oil by a change in the journal design was pointed out. The reduced material loss in this situation is probably due to contaminants being effectively removed from the abrasive contact area owing to the belts of soft material and the grooves on the surface of the journal. It was also found that the modified journal reduces wear in concentrated linear contact. This is probably due to effective, wear reducing boundary layers which form during friction owing to the presence of a modifying material.