Study of hard non-ferrous materials for Arduous conditions of Rolling contact

Abstract

AS OUR technological civilization progresses, ever incr-easing demands are made on rolling mechanisms and on the materials and lubricants necessary for their successful operation. Advances in some fields such as nuclear engin-eering , aeronautical and space applications, which all involve extreme operating temperatures and environments, can in many instances be achieved only by substantial improvement of the properties of available materials or by the development and use of improved structural mate-rials . Conventional liquid lubricants are generally unsuitable at elevated temperatures and are lost by evaporation in low pressure environments and therefore some rolling mechanisms must operate without lubrication or be lubricated by solid films or by surface treatments. Under conditions of unlubricated rolling contact, conve- ntional ball bearing steels are not satisfactory and hard, wear resistant materials are required.