Controlling Starvation of Thrust Ball Bearing Using Magnetic Fluids

Abstract Magnetic fluids (MFs) are a kind of magnetically manipulated colloid, which may serve as an active lubricant. These fluids can be retained at the desired locations, by the application of an appropriately designed external magnetic field. In this research work, initially, centrifugal experiments were conducted to estimate the antispreading behavior of the MFs, in the presence of an external magnetic field. Later, the starvation behavior of a thrust ball bearing was investigated after lubricating it with an MF, under different magnetic field distributions and operating temperatures. The preliminary results presented that the application of an external magnetic field can maintain more residual MFs in the raceway at higher rotational speeds. Tribological tests showed that proper magnetic field distribution on the raceway may effectively inhibit the lubricant loss and prolong operation before the starvation of the bearing. In addition, an increased operating temperature of the bearing accelerated the occurrence of a starved state of lubrication.