Study on the Friction Characteristics and Fatigue Life of Manganese Phosphate Coating Bearings

Abstract

In this study, the tapered roller bearing was adopted to explore the effect of the manganese phosphate coating on the friction, wear, and lifespan of bearings. Line friction samples with and without a manganese phosphate coating were prepared. The White Light Interferometry was used to analyze the three-dimensional morphology and roughness, and the Optimal Schwing–Reib–Verschleiss-5 multifunctional friction and wear tester was applied to obtain the tribological parameters before and after the application of the manganese phosphate coating. A scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry were used to characterize the microstructure and element composition of the worn surfaces of the manganese phosphate coating. The influence of the manganese phosphate coating on the contact stress was contrasted and examined by establishing a finite element model of the tapered roller bearing. Finally, a life test of the tapered roller bearings was performed before and after the application of the manganese phosphate coating. The results demonstrate that manganese phosphate coating enhances wear resistance, lowers bearing contact stress, and reduces the coefficient of friction. The fatigue life of the tapered roller bearing can be significantly extended with a manganese phosphate coating. This is a new method that can be used to improve the service life of bearings.