RESEARCH ON HYDRODYNAMIC PEEK JOURNAL BEARINGSLUBRICATED WITH WATER AND OIL

Abstract

The main purpose of the research was to determine the possibilities and experimentally test the benefits ofreplacing conventional oil lubrication with ecological water lubrication. Tests were carried out on a test rigfor hydrodynamic radial bearings under conditions representative of the expected applications for the bearingin water turbines. Bearings made from the polymer material PEEK (polyether ether ketone) were tested understatic loads. The tests were carried out for two types of lubrication: pure water and oil, with a viscosity ofISO VG 46. A comparison of friction coefficients and load-carrying capacity for both lubricants was made.During the tests, an interesting phenomenon of polymer material running in was observed for relatively highpressures when lubricated with a very low-viscosity lubricating medium, i.e., water (pressures in the bearingover 2 MPa).