Study On The Molding Process Of Polyimide Semi-annular Bearing Shell Parts

Polyimide is one of the self-lubricating polymer material which are used in themanufacture of bearing shell parts, because of its excellent mechanical properties. Butmany factors could effect on its tribological and mechanical properties. Molding processconditions have a great effect on the mechanical properties and tribological properties ofpolyimide matrix parts.Polyimide parts are molding by the compression thermoforming process. The effectof process parameters on the mechanical properties of polyimide are studied with aorthogonal test method. Nonlinear surface fitting the experimental data in order to arriveat the process parameters combination which could made the mechanical properties ofpolyimide parts be optimal. The influence rules of molding process conditions, load,sliding speed to the friction coefficient and wear rate of polyimide was studied bytribological testing machine. Worn surface morphology was observed to explore the wearmechanism. The mold to forming Polyimide bearing shell was designed based on abovestudy. Optimize the molding process furtherly according to the effectiveness of bearingshell. The effects of friction pairs roughness to the tribological of PI semi-annular bearingshell was studied.The results showed that the mechanical and tribological properties of PI was effectedby compression thermoforming process parameters significantly, which the effected ofmolding temperature is most obvious. Molding time and molding temperature havedifferent effects on the wear and friction properties of PI. The anti-wear andreducing-friction properties of PI is influenced by friction conditions regularly. In thecompression thermoforming process of PI bearing shell, molding time associated with thethickness of parts significantly. The tribological of PI bearing are quite different underconditions with different roughness of friction pairs.