Tribological evaluation of graphite-reinforced polysulfone

BACKGROUND: The development of antifriction materials for stern tube bearings and their manufacturing to replace imported ones will ensure the sustainable development of national shipbuilding and allow to achieve the goals set by the Government of the Russian Federation to implement the shipbuilding development strategy. For example, the ambitious 120 MW Leader icebreaker (Icebreaker 9 Ice Class) project designed to develop the Northern Sea Route requires high performance antifriction liners. In the context of sanctions, it is required to both replace imported materials and surpass their mechanical properties. In this regard, the problem of developing new antifriction composites with improved mechanical properties is relevant. AIM: To determine the applicability of graphite-reinforced polysulfone as an antifriction material for marine stern tube bearings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the experiment, we used a composite and casting matrices to make test pieces. Caprolon was selected as the comparable material. The study was conducted on a tribometer using the disk and bar contact principle. We recorded the friction time, shaft (disk) rotation frequency, shaft force on the test piece, tribometer power consumption during the process, and crater wear width. The tests allowed to determine wear segment depth, friction torque, dynamic friction coefficient, and linear and weight wear. RESULTS: The tribological evaluation of graphite-reinforced polysulfone allowed to develop a mathematical linear wear model of PSF+10%C. Tests were conducted both for the PSF+10%C composite and caprolon taken as a reference; they allowed to determine the relative wear resistance of the composite in the range of 0.08–0.33 for the given experimental conditions. CONCLUSION: The resulting material PSF+10%C has poorer wear parameters, friction coefficient, and relative wear resistance coefficient compared to caprolon. The study does not allow us to recommend the composite for use in stern tube bearings. However, the resulting mathematical wear model may be used in other scientific and technology applications.