BEARING ALLOYS

Bearings are devices used to support the moving

parts. They may be bearings or rolling contact plain,
an oil film separates contact bearings.
In properly aligned and lubricated bearing either
sliding the moving parts.
The capacity to retain this surface layer of oil is an
important feature of a bearing alloy.
 BEARING ALLOYS
 Bearing alloys are of three main types
1. Two phase alloys consisting of hard particles embedded
in a softer matrix.
Ex ., white metals.
2. Two phase alloys in which one of the phases becomes a
lubricant in extreme circumstances
Ex : Leaded bronzes & Al-Tin alloys
3. Single phase alloys.
 • The alloys are divided in two classes
White
(i) metals
Tin based (ii)Lead based

• TIN BASED : They are often called as

Babbit metals. All these alloys contain
antimony between 3.5 and 15%.
• The Antimony combines with some of
the tin forming the hard intermetallic
compound SbSn in the form of
cuboids. These are lighter and float on
the melt.
• Due to this, the bearing is too hard at
top & too soft at bottom.
• This problem is reduced either by rapid
cooling or by addition of copper upto
3.5% to the alloy.
• They have better corrosion & wear
resistance.
• They are preferred for higher loads and
speeeds.
• LEAD BASED : Lead based are cheaper than tin. These alloys
contain lead, antimony and tin with small additions of
arsenic.
• It consists of hard cuboids of SbSn in a matrix of PbSn binary
eutectic matrix.
• These alloys operates satisfactorily for light and medium
loads.
White metal bearings
 White metals
Sn Sb Cu Pb Uses

90 7 3 - High loads &

temperatures.

87 9 4 - Main bearing in automobile &

aero engines

75 7 3 15 Pumps,compressors & general

machinery.

12 13 1 74 Mining m/c & electric motors

5 15 - 80 Journal bearing in cars

1 15 1As 83 Medium loads, blowers &

pumps
 Bearing bronzes
• For heavier loads, bronzes are used instead of white metals. Plain tin
bronzes (10-15% Sn ) & phosphor bronzes (10-13% Sn & 0.3-1.0% P) are
widely used.
• These bearings contain particles of hard intermetallic compound Cu Sn
embedded in a tough matrix.
• Leaded bronzes (plastic bronzes) contain 5 -30% Lead.
• They have high resistance to wear & good thermal conductivity.
• During running, if lubrication fails, lead is extruded under pressure &
forms a lubricating film which prevents seizure.
• Aero engines, automobile & diesel engine crank shaft bearings.
• Sintered bronzes are used for small bearings. Powdered copper, tin and
graphite are mixed, compacted under pressure and sintered. Graphite
provides self lubricating to the bearing.
• ALUMINIUM – TIN BEARING ALLOYS
• They contain 80% Al -20%Sn. They can operate at
much higher loads & temperatures than the white
metal. They are used in big end & main automobile
bearings.
• SILVER BEARINGS
• Silver is plated with lead to reduce the risk of seizure.
Usually a thin coating of indium is given to increase
corrosion resistance of lead to acidic oils. They are
used for heavy loads such as in aircraft bearings.