Improved Wear Behavior of Cylindrical Roller Thrust Bearings by Three-Beam Laser Interference

Within this study, the bearing washer surfaces of cylindrical roller thrust bearings (type 81212, SAE 52100) are laser-patterned with a dot-like pattern (periodicity of 6.5 mu m and depth of 1 mu m). The wear behavior of the patterned bearings is compared to that of bearings with a ground surface finish. The tribological tests are conducted on an adapted FE-8-test rig using a mineral oil with a low concentration of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (0.025 wt% P). This study demonstrates an 83% reduction in the wear loss of the laser-patterned bearing. The patterns are able to store wear particles in the topographic minima, thus reducing abrasive wear and therefore the wear loss. Additionally, the formation of a wear inhibiting tribo layer is enhanced as the surface pattern acts as secondary source for the deployed additive.