Effect of creep on tribological properties of water-lubricated tail bearing materials

Polymers are widely applied in water-lubricated tail bearings. Polymers tend to creep under constant stress. The creep deformation is often ignored in the design, fabrication and operation. In this study, three commonly used water-lubricated bearing materials, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), Feroform T12, and Compac(Thordon), were used to investigate creep deformation on tribological wear properties. Creep properties were tested on a electronic universal testing machine. The friction and wear properties were tested on a multifuctional tribometer. The results showed that creep will increase the friction coefficient and wear amount of the material. The growth amplitude is in the order of UHMWPE, Feroform T12 and Compac. The increase of friction coefficient of UHMWPE decreases with the increase of rotational speed. And it also decreases with the increase of load. Feroform T12 is opposite to UHMWPE. However, the friction coefficient of Compac decreases with the increase of rotational speed at ION and 25N, and increases at 40N and 55N.