Tribo-mechanical properties of graphite/talc modified polymer composite bearing balls

Abstract

In this study, epoxy resin blended with graphite/talc micro fillers are used to fabricate the composite bearing balls of uniform diameter of 12.7 mm. These bearing balls were tested in four ball test rig for investigation of friction and wear. The fabricated composite bearing ball of composition graphite (10 wt%) /talc (10 wt%)/epoxy demonstrated a significant reduction by ∼63% in coefficient of friction and a moderate increment by ∼34% in wear resistance as compared to pure epoxy bearing ball under dry condition. Further, the compressive strength and hardness test were carried out on the composite bearing balls which revealed a reduction in compressive strength after adding the fillers but approximately similar compressive strength and a marginal improvement in hardness by ∼5% was exhibited by graphite (10 wt%)/talc (10 wt%) /epoxy composite bearing ball with respect to pure epoxy bearing ball. Hence, the fabricated polymer composite bearing balls can be implemented for low to moderate load bearing application with enough capability to eliminate the bulk lubrication requirements as in case of conventional metallic bearing balls.

Keywords

• epoxy resin
• graphite
• talc
• bearing ball
• friction
• wear