A study on tribological behaviour of tin-based bearing material in dry sliding

In this study, we investigated the tribological behaviour of two different tin-based bearing materials in dry sliding conditions. One of these alloys with low Sb content (7%) is known as SAE 12 and is widely used in the automotive industry and the other with high Sb content (20%) is a Sn–Sb–Cu alloy. Wear and friction characteristics were determined with respect to sliding distance, sliding speed and bearing load, using a Tecquipment HFN type 5 journal bearing test equipment. Hardness measurements were carried out to determine the effect of the increase in Sb content and its impact on tribological properties. Light microscopy is used to understand the tribological events in these two different bearing materials.Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the tribological properties of tin-based bearing alloys with different compositions, used especially in heavy industrial service conditions. Tests were carried out in dry sliding conditions, since despite the presence of lubricant film, under heavy service conditions dry sliding may occur from time to time, causing local wear. As a result of local wear, bearing materials and bearing may be out of their tolerance limits in their early life time.