Relative Adhesive Wear Performance of Rolling Element Bearing Material Pairs

The relative adhesive wear performance of rolling element bearing material pairs was evaluated using a constant entrainment stepped slide-to-roll (SRR) test protocol. Raceway materials included M50, M50NiL, 440C, and powder metallurgy M62 (M62 PM). Rolling element materials included M50, 440C, and Si3N4. The material interfaces of both all-steel and hybrid configurations were ranked based on the survived SRR. The Si3N4 and steel hybrid pairing increased the adhesive wear resistance, reduced the tractive effort of the contact, and enabled operation with reduced component temperatures throughout each test. Post-test wear track morphology and chemistry were investigated using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Steel alloying elements and elevated levels of oxygen were identified within the Si3N4 wear track from each hybrid material pair.