Experimental study on the effect of load and rotation speed on dry sliding of silicon nitride

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of load and rotation speed on dry sliding of silicon nitride, including a series of tribological behaviors (friction coefficient, wear rate, temperature rise, etc.) and wear mechanism. Through the analysis of the above characteristics, the influence law of load and speed on them and the internal relationship between them are determined, and then the best comprehensive performance parameters of silicon nitride full-ceramic spherical plain bearings in dry sliding are predicted, which can provide guidance for the operation condition of silicon nitride full-ceramic spherical plain bearings in dry sliding. Design/methodology/approach The experimental study of different loads and rotation speeds under dry friction conditions was carried out by the using ball-disk sliding test method. Findings With the increase of load, the friction coefficient of silicon nitride friction pair and the wear rate of silicon nitride ball decrease continuously. With the increase of rotation speed, the friction coefficient of silicon nitride friction pair first increases and then decreases, and the wear of silicon nitride ball first increases and then decreases. With the increase of load and rotation speed, the wear mechanism eventually changes to adhesive wear. Originality/value Because of the low timeliness and inefficiency of bearing experiments, this work adopts a simple ball-disk model to comprehensively explore the influence rules of different conditions, which provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent practical application of silicon nitride full-ceramic spherical plain bearings.