Seizure resistance of leaded aluminium bearing alloys

Abstract

The antifriction and antiseizure characteristics of a number of aluminium bearing alloys varying in lead content from 10 to 50 wt-% have been studied under different lubrication conditions using a bearing test machine designed for the investigation. With continuous oil lubrication, bearings of all the leaded alloys are able to run without seizure up to the regimes of boundary and mixed lubrication, whereas the base alloys seize under conditions in which the leaded alloys are under hydrodynamic lubrication. The load at which bearing seizure takes place is primarily determined by the frictional state of the bearing. In general, the addition of lead to aluminium alloys is found to reduce interface friction and to improve their ability to resist seizure only for concentrations in the range 10–25 wt-%. Lead–containing aluminium alloys also show a capacity to absorb and to store a lubricating oil and to use it to diminish friction in the event of failure of the oil supply. © 1985 The Institute of Metals.