Effect of carbon and glass fiber additives on friction, temperature, vibration and noise in PTFE based radial journal bearings used in the automotive industry

Authors : Mithat Şimşek, Nurullah Gültekin
Pages : 278-288
Doi:10.18245/ijaet.1790965
View : 85 | Download : 188
Publication Date : 2025-12-30
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Automotive companies are carrying out various studies to produce parts at lower costs. In particular, a trend from metal-based structures to composite materials is observed. Composite materials are preferred due to their low production costs, easy processing, and corrosion resistance. They also play an effective role in reducing difficulties in raw material supply. However, these materials\\\' properties require improvement. The mechanical properties of composite materials can be improved by using different additives. In this context, it is observed that mechanical performance can be increased with additives added to PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) materials. The most common additives include carbon and glass fiber, which improve the mechanical and physical properties of PTFE. In this study, radial sliding bearings produced using three different bearing materials (pure PTFE, 25% carbon-doped PTFE, and 25% glass fiber-doped PTFE) were tested. In the experiments, the effects of additives on friction coefficient, bearing temperature, mechanical vibration, and noise were investigated. The experiments were carried out at three different loads (12, 24, and 36 N) and three different speeds (0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 m/s). A general evaluation of the experimental results indicates that the addition of carbon reduces the coefficient of friction by 22.83%, while it increases mechanical vibration by 0.75% and noise levels by 0.2 dBA compared to pure PTFE under high-speed and high-load conditions. These findings suggest that the carbon additive enhances the tribological efficiency of PTFE by reducing friction, albeit with a slight trade-off in dynamic stability and acoustic performance.
Keywords : PTFE, Karbon, Cam Elyaf, Kaymalı Yatak, Mekanik Titreşim, Gürültü

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