Abstract
Tests of an exploratory nature into a novel process, which improved the load-carrying capacity of sliding surfaces and significantly reduced friction, are described
Particles of a hard material, for example, diamond, were impregnated into the sliding surface, the projecting sharp edges being subsequently removed to leave numerous small pads of diamond above the surface. The experimental programme was limited mainly to bronze sliding on hardened steel and lubricated with aviation paraffin, but a few tests under conditions of high Hertz stress (hard steel sliding on hard steel) and synthetic-oil lubrication showed similar, beneficial effects. Only the hardened steel was impregnated in the bronze on steel tests
Endurance running of the impregnated surface (bronze on steel lubricated with fuel) at loads up to 300 per cent of the failing load of a conventionally lapped surface was satisfactorily performed with coefficients of friction of the order of 0.001. Excellent repeatability of control tests was obtained
Silicon carbide was shown to be a suitable substitute for diamond
One instance of impregnation of the surfaces within a fuel pump with a subsequent reduction in wear rate is also described
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