The Evaluation of a Modified Chrome Oxide Based High Temperature Solid Lubricant Coating for Foil Gas Bearings
This paper describes the friction and wear performance of PS304, a modified chrome oxide based coating, for foil gas bearings. PS304 contains 60 wt. % NiCr binder, 20 wt. % Cr203 hardener, and 10 wt. % each Ag and BaF2ICaF2 lubricants. For evaluation, the coating is plasma spray deposited onto test journals which are slid against a superalloy partial arc foil bearing. The test load was 10 KPa (1.5 psi) and the bearings were run under start/stop cyclic conditions. The data show good wear performance of the bearing especially at temperatures above 25 °C. Bearing friction was moderate (μ ≤≈0.4) over the entire temperature range. Based upon the results obtained, the PS304 coating has promise for high temperature, oil-free turbomachinery applications. Presented at the 54th Annual Meeting Las Vegas, Nevada May 23–27, 1999
Thermohydrodynamic analysis of compressible gas flow in compliant foil bearings
This thesis deals with the development of mathematical models and numerical schemes for simulating the hydrodynamic pressure and temperature rise of compliant foil bearings lubricated by a thin gas film in between its compliant bearing surface and the rotating shaft. The model accounts for the compressibility of gas, the compliance of the bearing surface, and the interaction between the pressure field and temperature field of the gas film in the bearing system. Numerical solutions obtained over a fairly large range of operating speeds show excellent agreement with existing experimental data from both load performance test and bearing temperature measurement. A series of parametric study is presented to illustrate the utility of the developed algorithms for characterization of foil bearing performance using both isothermal and thermohydrodynamic theories. The numerical algorithm can handle high speeds and high eccentricity ratios, which allows the prediction of realistic performance and characteristics of foil bearings under extreme operating conditions.
The role of silver in self-lubricating coatings for use at extreme temperatures
The advantages and disadvantages of elemental silver as a tribological material are discussed. It is demonstrated that the relatively high melting point of 961 deg C, softness, marked plasticity, and thermochemical stability of silver combine to make this metal useful in thin film solid lubricant coatings over a wide temperature range. Disadvantages of silver during sliding, except when used as a thin film, are shown to be gross ploughing due to plastic deformation under load with associated high friction and excessive transfer to counterface surfaces. This transfer generates an irregular surface topography with consequent undesirable changes in bearing clearance distribution. Research to overcome these disadvantages of element silver is described. A comparison is made of the tribological behavior of pure silver with that of silver formulated with other metals and high-temperature solid lubricants. The composite materials are prepared by co-depositing the powdered components with an airbrush followed by furnace heat treatment or by plasma-spraying. Composite coatings were formulated which are shown to be self-lubricating over repeated, temperature cycles from low temperature to about 900 deg C.