Improved Wear Behavior of Cylindrical Roller Thrust Bearings by Three‐Beam Laser Interference

Within this study, the bearing washer surfaces of cylindrical roller thrust bearings (type 81212, SAE 52100) are laser‐patterned with a dot‐like pattern (periodicity of 6.5 µm and depth of 1 µm). The wear behavior of the patterned bearings is compared to that of bearings with a ground surface finish. The tribological tests are conducted on an adapted FE‐8‐test rig using a mineral oil with a low concentration of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (0.025 wt% P). This study demonstrates an 83% reduction in the wear loss of the laser‐patterned bearing. The patterns are able to store wear particles in the topographic minima, thus reducing abrasive wear and therefore the wear loss. Additionally, the formation of a wear inhibiting tribo layer is enhanced as the surface pattern acts as secondary source for the deployed additive.