708C Ball bearings were made of 9Cr18 steel which had precision of class 4, MoS2-Ti composite coatings were deposited on inner and outer races of ball bearings by unbalanced magnetron sputtering system, and bearing cages were made of PTFE-based self-lubricating polymers. Bearing’s tribological torques as a function of storage time in high humidity environment were studied by using LHU-2 thermal & humidity test chamber and Bearing 2000 torque measurement device. Developing bearing vacuum performance test rig to research bearing’s torque as a function of running time, bearings were dismantled after test and using XPS to analyze the surfaces of bearing’s races and balls. The results show that storied in the environment of 30°C, 85% RH, bearing’s running torques increased proportionally as the storage time went on. When run-in the bearings which were storied for 440 days, the start and average running torques of bearings could come back to the level which was the same as the test start, but the fluctuation of bearing’s average running torque increased. Running in one direction at the speed of 650 r/min, in vacuum environment (~10-4Pa) and ambient temperature, tested bearings showed good running performance with low friction torque varied only between 1g·cm~2 g·cm until to the test ended at 1.872×108 revolutions. XPS analysis showed that a stable and sustainable solid lubrication system was established among bearing’s races, balls and cages.
Influence of grease rheology on thrust ball bearings friction torque
