Wear evaluation of journal bearings using an adapted micro-scale abrasion tester

To determine the wear resistance of journal bearings (JB′s) under lubricated condition, this paper aims to provide an alternative method using an adapted TE-66 micro-scale abrasion tester which was adapted to generate accelerated lubricated wear on actual JB′s. Two actual JB′s with different coatings were investigated. The load (in the range 1–3 N) and sliding distance (in the range 39.9–797.7 m) were varied to see the wear progression. The wear scars were assessed by SEM and optical profilometry, which exhibited the common abrasive and adhesive mechanisms of actual JB′s. In the paper, test procedures and wear behaviors were analyzed in detail. Thus, according to the coatings from the JB′s characterized, the wear resistances found were: 9.06E+13 N/m² for Pb–Cu–Al, 1.02E+15 N/m² for Cu–Al, and 1.33E+14 N/m² for Sn–Al–Si. Finally, the tester demonstrated good adaptability to reproduce accelerated lubricated wear in JB′s.