Lubrication of Diffusion-Beryllided Titanium

Abstract

The friction and lubrication characteristics of titanium which had been beryllided by a diffusion process were investigated. Tests were performed using flat surfaces in a modified 4-Ball wear tester. The apparatus is described and the results tabulated and discussed. Various combinations of titanium, beryllided titanium, 4140 steel, 1020 steel and silver-plated steel were studied rubbing under oil lubrication and also dry. Special bearing materials such as lead-PTFE dry bearing material and oiled and dry porous bronze were also investigated. This study confirms that 1020 steel, 4140 steel, and silver-plated steel when run against oil lubricated titanium gall and seize very rapidly. However, these same materials running against titanium which had been beryllided showed none of these poor sliding characteristics but instead had a low coefficient of friction and very low wear. Similar contrast in behavior was noted wizen rubbing titanium and beryllided titanium on porous bronze and the lead-PTFE dry bearing material. It is concluded, that after a beryllided coating has been formed on titanium by a diffusion process, the resulting surfaces can be lubricated by conventional means.