Wear of hybrid radial bearings (PEEK ring-PTFE retainer and alumina balls) under dry rolling contact

Wear of poly ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) radial ball bearing (composed of PEEK ring, PTFE composite retainer and alumina balls) was investigated. The PEEK radial bearings were produced by lathe machining, and their rolling contact wear tests were carried out at high rotational speed in dry condition. The PEEK adhesion film including PTFE and graphite wear particles was observed on the raceway of the bearing׳s inner ring during the test. Due to the PEEK-PTFE adhesion film accumulation, the wear rate decreased to one tenth of all-PEEK bearing. Moreover alumina balls were not stuck, and the operation temperature was less than glass transition temperature of PEEK. It was found that the PEEK-PTFE adhesion film improved dramatically wear and rotational performance of the bearing.