Seizure behaviour of Pb-free engine bearing materials under dry condition

Due to new environmental regulations, Pb-free engine bearing materials are becoming more common and there is a need for studying their tribological performance. Under severe operating conditions, failure due to seizure can occur in engine bearings. In this work, seizure behaviour of different multi-layered engine bearing materials has been studied by using a block-on-ring test setup under dry condition. These materials included Al-Sn-based lining with no overlay, bronze lining with polyamide-imide-based overlay containing MoS2 and graphite, bronze lining with two overlays of Al-Sn-based and polyamide-imide-based material, bronze-based lining with Sn-based overlay and bismuth (Bi)-containing bronze with Sn-based overlay. The tests were performed by gradually increasing the load at a specific time interval and in a stepwise manner and at a constant speed under unidirectional dry sliding conditions. The test materials, counter surfaces and the wear debris were analysed using SEM with a view to understand the seizure mechanisms. Bronze-based lining with a polyamide-imide-based overlay containing MoS2 and graphite does not exhibit seizure up to a load of 475N. For Al-Sn-based lining without overlay, seizure occurs at a relatively lower load of 125N. The Al-Sn-based lining with no overlay shows higher friction and the polyamide-imide-based overlay containing MoS2 and graphite shows lower friction during the seizure test. In most cases, there is material transfer onto the test ring counter surface. Material transfer onto the counter surface either due to severe adhesion or wear debris adhered and smeared on it. Al-Sn-based lining and an exposed Al-Sn-based overlay show severe adhesion that causes seizure. On the other hand, exposed Pb containing lining and Bi containing lining seize due to mechanical interlocking caused by the adhered wear debris on both surfaces.