Effect of Surface Periodic Structures on Coefficient of Rolling Friction of Thrust Ball Bearing

摘要

In order to investigate effects of texture on the coefficient of rolling friction, grating like periodic structures of submicron size were formed on raceway grooves of a thrust ball bearing. The periodic structures were produced self-integratingly by using linearly polarized femtosecond laser pulses with low fluence. The effects of the periodic structures on the coefficient of rolling friction were investigated with torque test equipment. It was shown that radial periodic structures reduce the coefficient of rolling friction. In the case of a full-width pattern, the average decreasing rate of friction was about 10%. The decreasing rate was boosted by the remaining unprocessed area on the centerline of the raceway groove. The most effective unprocessed width was about the same as the Hertzian contact width between the raceway groove and the rolling elements. The effective pattern achieved a 36% decrease in rolling friction at a rotational speed of 3.9 m/s.