Wear and friction of synthetic esters in a boundary lubricated journal bearing

This study concerns the case of a slow intermittent motion, conformal contact, high load bronze journal bearing against a hardened steel shaft lubricated in an oil bath at a temperature about of 13 °C. Three synthetic esters were used: one pure and two formulated ones. Worn surfaces were examined using SEM-EDS to determine the wear mechanism. The tested lubricants were examined using ICP-AES to identify the elements present. sults show the wear rate, friction and temperature in the subsurface of the journal bearing material. An initial bronze–steel contact develops into a copper–copper contact along the sliding distance. Wear element concentration in the oil and friction surfaces departs from the elementary concentration in the journal bearing bronze base material. The copper layer thickness depended on additives in the synthetic esters, load and wear rate.