PTFE/carbon composite radial deep groove ball bearings: Part 1–tribological characterization suitable for ball bearing applications

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a self-lubricating, highly stable, high-performing polymer that has expanded its usage in bearing tribology. However, its application in ball bearings is still limited. This article explores using PTFE/carbon composites to evaluate their suitability for radial deep groove ball-bearing applications. The proposed work is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the tribological characterization of the PTFE/carbon through a ball-on-disc test and examines the effect of reinforcement on bearing performance. The second part focuses on fabricating and analysing PTFE/carbon radial deep groove ball bearings for characteristics. In the first part, a ball-on-disc experiment was performed on pure PTFE (PTFE) and 25% carbon-filled PTFE (CR25) to measure the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate. These materials were subjected to three loading conditions at a particular speed using silicon nitride balls (Si ₃ N ₄ ). The friction coefficient was recorded throughout the interaction, and specific wear rates were calculated. After completing the tests, wear tracks were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and a Contracer.