Polymer-Based Self-Lubricating Material

ABSTRACT: A low-friction coefficient material with color based on proper selection of polar conditions of pigment and liquid lubricant was developed. Bush-type bearings were made from poly oxymethylene reinforced with inorganic fillers, including polar compounds of white carbon and glass powder, and nonpolar compounds of carbon black and graphite. The fillers were coated with different levels of titanate, and with polar lubricants such as cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid, and nonpolar lubricants of motor oil, and paraffin. The frictional properties at constant velocity and at constant loading, and the relationships between materials polarity are discussed. An excellent self-lubricat-ing material of frictional coefficient less than 0.02 was obtained. That is superior to the most current commercial products claiming m 5 0.05; 0.06. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons