Self-lubricating performance and durability of ball bearings for the LE-7 liquid oxygen rocket-turbopump
- NASDA, Kakuda Propulsion Center (Japan) National Aerospace Lab., Kakuda (Japan) NTN Corp., Aerospace Bearing Engineering Dept., Kuwana (Japan)
The durability of ball bearings, 32-mm- and 45-mm-bore, with a retainer or glass cloth-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) laminate was tested under a high radial load at a speed of 20,000 rpm in LOX or LN2. The retainers were characterized as good self-lubricators because the abrasive glass-cloth fiber tips exposed on the retainer were chemicaly etched away with hydrofluoric acid (HF). During testing, the bearing-cartridge-acceleration was monitored to detect bearing damage. Testing in LOX for about 2.2 hr showed that excellent lubricating conditions were obtained for all bearings. Testing in LN2 for about 5.1 hr detected that the fatigue life of the bearing was about the same as the calculated B10 fatigue life. The HF chemical treatment resulted in a reacted fluoride-oxide material which remained in the etched part of the glass fiber. Several chemical products, particularly MgO, CaO, and CaCO3, enhanced adhesion of PTFE transfer film to the counterface, resulting in the formation of a durable lubricating film and the reduction of the friction and wear in the bearing. 12 refs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5564177
- Journal Information:
- Lubrication Engineering; (United States), Vol. 49:9; ISSN 0024-7154
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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