Frictional characteristics of stainless steel lubricated with pressurized high temperature water

고온/고압 하에서 물로 윤활되는 스테인레스 강의 마찰 특성

The fatigue life of support bearings is one of the most critical factors for the performance of a control rod driving mechanism. They are operated at high temperature and high pressure and especially lubricated with dramatically low viscosity water. The support bearing is made of standardized 440C stainless steel, and it supports thrust load including the weight of the driving system and external force. Friction and wear characteristics of this material operating under severe lubrication condition is not well known yet, although it is expected to be changed with respect to temperature and boundary pressure. So the friction characteristics are investigated in sliding conditions using the reciprocating tribometer which can simulate the operating conditions. Highly purified water is used as lubricant, and the water is heated up and pressurized. Friction farce on the reciprocating specimens is monitored by the load cells. The results of the experiments are presented in this paper.