Four-Ball Wear Studies of Steel-on-Steel, Steel-on-Ceramic and Ceramic-on-Ceramic Bearing Systems

Sequential four-ball wear tests have been used to evaluate automotive crankcase oils for use as heavy-duty hydraulic fluids and automotive crankcase lubricants. This test technique has been adapted for use with steel-on-steel, steel-on-ceramic and ceramic-on-ceramic bearing systems. In addition to the conventional “run in” and “steady-state” wear studies, the data produced have been used to interpret bearing unit load levels for the various bearing systems involved. The data produced show that in many cases hybrid bearing systems (steel-on-ceramic) and ceramic-on-ceramic bearing systems may be useful at higher unit loadings than the conventional steel-on-steel systems. These studies focused on achieving low boundary lubricated wear rates. The bearing unit loadings were obtained from the unit bearing pressures after the “run in” of the specific bearing system.