How to further improve the lubrication performance and service life of Self-lubricated Bearing Slide Plate?

The lubrication performance and service life of the Self-lubricated Bearing Slide Plate are its core performance indicators, which directly affect the efficiency, reliability and maintenance cost of equipment operation. In order to further improve these performances, we can start from material selection, structural design, surface treatment, lubricant optimization and manufacturing process. The following is a detailed analysis:

1. Material selection and modification
(1) Substrate optimization
Metal matrix composite materials:
Using high-strength metals (such as copper alloys or aluminum alloys) as substrates can improve the load-bearing capacity and fatigue resistance of the slide plate.
Adding wear-resistant particles (such as tungsten carbide or aluminum oxide) to the metal substrate can significantly enhance the wear resistance of the slide plate.
Polymer-based materials:
Using high-performance engineering plastics (such as PTFE, PEEK or nylon) as the substrate can provide excellent low friction coefficient and chemical corrosion resistance.
Polymer-based materials can also enhance their mechanical strength and creep resistance by adding fibers (such as glass fiber or carbon fiber).
(2) Lubricant modification
Solid lubricants:
Adding solid lubricants such as graphite, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) can form a stable lubricating film during sliding, reducing friction and wear.
These lubricants can also be evenly distributed in the substrate through nano-scale dispersion technology to further enhance the lubrication effect.
New lubricants:
Research and application of new lubricants (such as ionic liquids or nanoparticle lubricants) can significantly reduce the friction coefficient and extend the service life.
2. Structural design optimization
(1) Porosity and lubricant distribution
Self-lubricating skateboards usually store lubricants by introducing pores in the substrate. Optimizing porosity and pore distribution can ensure that the lubricant is continuously released during use.
The shape of the pores (such as spherical, cylindrical or irregular shapes) has an important influence on the release rate and distribution uniformity of the lubricant, and the pore structure can be controlled by precision machining.
(2) Multilayer structure design
The use of a multilayer structure (such as a metal substrate + a self-lubricating layer) can combine the advantages of different materials. For example, the metal substrate provides high strength and rigidity, while the self-lubricating layer provides low friction performance.
The multilayer structure can also enhance the interlayer bonding force through interface modification (such as coating or chemical bonding) to avoid delamination or peeling.
(3) Surface texture design
Designing micron- or nano-scale textures (such as grooves, pits or protrusions) on the surface of the skateboard can effectively store lubricants and guide the flow direction of the lubricant.

Surface texture can also reduce the contact area, thereby reducing friction and wear rate.
3. Surface treatment and coating technology
(1) Coating technology
Hard coating:
Applying a hard coating (such as DLC diamond-like coating or ceramic coating) on ​​the surface of the skateboard can significantly improve its wear resistance and scratch resistance.
Lubricating coating:
Applying a lubricating coating with a low friction coefficient (such as PTFE coating or MoS₂ coating) can further reduce friction and extend service life.
Composite coating:
Combining the advantages of hard coating and lubricating coating, developing composite coating technology can not only improve wear resistance but also maintain low friction performance.
(2) Surface modification
The microstructure of the skateboard surface can be changed through technologies such as laser treatment, plasma spraying or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to improve its wear resistance and lubrication performance.
Surface modification can also further optimize the adhesion and distribution of lubricants by introducing hydrophilic or hydrophobic functions.
4. Lubricant optimization
(1) Lubricant content and distribution
The lubricant content needs to be optimized according to the specific working conditions. Too high a lubricant content may cause the substrate strength to decrease, while too low a lubricant content may not provide sufficient lubrication.
Advanced manufacturing processes (such as powder metallurgy or injection molding) can achieve uniform distribution of lubricants in the substrate to ensure stable performance during long-term use.
(2) Smart lubricants
The development of smart lubricants (such as lubricants that respond to changes in temperature or pressure) can dynamically adjust the lubrication performance according to actual working conditions, thereby extending the service life.
For example, some heat-sensitive lubricants release more lubricating components at high temperatures to meet the needs of extreme conditions.
5. Manufacturing process improvement
(1) Precision machining
The use of high-precision machining technology (such as CNC machining or laser cutting) can ensure the dimensional accuracy and surface finish of the skateboard, thereby reducing the contact stress between the friction pairs.
Precision machining can also optimize the edges and transition areas of the skateboard to avoid early failure due to stress concentration.
(2) Sintering and molding technology
Powder metallurgy sintering technology can accurately control the porosity and density of the skateboard, thereby optimizing the distribution and release performance of the lubricant.
Injection molding technology is suitable for polymer-based skateboards and can achieve complex shapes and high-precision manufacturing.
6. Precautions in practical applications
(1) Environmental adaptability
In high temperature, high humidity or corrosive environments, it is necessary to select heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials, and enhance the environmental adaptability of the skateboard through surface treatment or coating technology.
For low temperature or vacuum environments (such as aerospace), low-volatility lubricants (such as ionic liquids or solid lubricants) can be selected to meet special needs.
(2) Load and speed matching
Select appropriate slide plate materials and designs according to actual working conditions (such as PV value: pressure × speed) to ensure that it can maintain stable performance under high load or high speed conditions.
(3) Regular maintenance
Even self-lubricating slide plates may experience lubricant exhaustion or surface wear after long-term use. Regular inspection and replacement of slide plates are important measures to extend the service life of equipment.

The lubrication performance and service life of Self-lubricated Bearing Slide Plate can be significantly improved through comprehensive improvement of material optimization, structural design, surface treatment, lubricant improvement and manufacturing process. However, in actual applications, targeted optimization is required according to specific working conditions and needs to ensure that the slide plate achieves the best balance between functionality, economy and environmental protection.