Research On Surface Modification Technology Of Elastic Metallic Plastic Pads

Compared with Babbitt pads of thrust bearing, the elastic metallic-plastic pads possess the combination of reliable running, excellent performance, flexible operation, convenient installation and long service life. Therefore the elastic metallic-plastic pads are widely employed in vertical electric machines of hydropower plants. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been used as the surface material of the elastic metallic-plastic pads because of its low friction coefficient and electrical insulation; but its strength, toughness and wear resistance are very low. In order to improve the wear resistance of elastic metallic-plastic thrust bearing pad, a method of surface modification of it is proposed. The method is employed by ion implantation. The structures, electrical conductivity, mechanical and micro-tribological characteristics are studied by XPS, AES, SEM, micro-hardness tester and multi-function tribological machine. The results show that ion implantation can induce surface cross bonding of PTFE, and a range distribution in the layer of implantation is described by a gauss distribution. The conductivity, surface hardness, wear resistance of PTFE are greatly improved by ion implantation. The achievement of this research will accelerate the speed of nano-surface modification development to organic polymer; the wear resistance of the elastic metallic-plastic pads is greatly enhanced and the service life is longer. Therefore, the application of ion implantation to the elastic metallic-plastic pad has made its properties distinguished from other counterparts...