Analysis of surface topography of slide journal bearings and micro - bearings

In this paper, the author presents the results of measurements of the slide journal bearings and micro-bearings sleeves and journal surfaces. The study was performed with the atomic force microscope (AFM) NT-206. The results of measurements of surface topography are presented in the form of a 2D and 3D map of surface topography and also in the form of profiles for selected cross-sections of examined surfaces. Additionally, the height distributions of surface roughness are presented. The Atomic Force Micsroscope NT-206 allows investigating the surface of sample with maximum scanning area 32μm x 32μm and with the maximum value of roughness ±1μm. The measurements can be carried out in three modes: static (contact) mode, dynamic (non-contact) mode, dynamic intermittent mode. The author used the contact mode. The application of this mode of operation, in the case of samples with a hard surface, for example, the journal of a bearing, enables to obtain a good mapping of the measured surface. The presented in this paper results of surface topography measurements, include the calculated values of the Ra and Rq parameters and also the maximum value of the distance between the lowest and the highest surface inequality. The obtained results allow evaluating the amount and type of wear of researched elements in the micro-scale and they also are useful in the design of such surface layers of co-operating components, in order to obtain optimum tribological properties. When considering the impact of the surface roughness on the change of height of bearing gap, and consequently the change of flow and operating parameters, the information about average distribution of roughness value is required. With such measurements, it is possible to obtain these data. In the presented research the micro-bearings from personal computers hard drives, as well as classic bearings and sleeves, were investigated.