Surface topography of slide journal bearings

In this article the measurements results of surface topography of different types of slide bearings sleeves have been presented. The research has been conducted with the use of atomic force microscope (AFM). The results of measurements of surface topography were presented in the form of surface topography maps, three-dimensional graphs and some examples of selected cross-sections of investigated surface in the form of profile graphs. Measurements of surface topography were made for thin-walled sleeves of slide journal bearings covered with PTFE, POM, bronze and white metal layers. Operated and new sleeves have been considered with the use of Atomic Force Microscope NT-206produced in MTM in Minsk, Republic of Belarus [2]. Atomic Force Microscope NT-206 provides information for samples with maximum roughness value plus or minus 1 mi m. Max. field in one scanning process is up to 32)um x 32mi m. Measurements were preceded with resolution 256x256points. Presented in the work results of surface topography measurements also include the calculated values of average deviation profile Ra and Rq and the value of fixed distance between the lowest and highest inequality. The application SurfaceXplorer was used for processing and visualization of the data obtained from AFM NT-206, which besides from generating 2D, 3D and profile diagrams, was used to calculate and draw graph of height distribution. The comparison of received data will allow verifying type and amount of surface wear of discussed journal micro-bearings parts in micro and nanoscale and will help to design surface layers with improved tribological properties.