What is the Role of Self-Lubricating Bearings in Machinery Equipment? -The "Joint and Cartilage System"

If machinery equipment is likened to a "human body" in motion, self-lubricating bearings play the combined role of joints and cartilage system in the human body – they are both the pivotal hubs supporting movement and the "lubrication guardians" reducing friction and cushioning impacts. This role is embodied in the following three aspects:

Joints: The Pivot for Load-Bearing and Movement
Human joints connect bones, bear loads, and transmit forces; similarly, self-lubricating bearings are located at key nodes of mechanical transmission (such as rotating shafts and connecting rods), undertaking the functions of load transmission and motion guidance.

l High Load-Bearing Capacity: Just as the knee joint supports the body's weight, high-strength brass bearings with an ultimate pressure of 30-50 MPa can withstand extreme pressures in mining machinery, akin to how articular cartilage disperses stress through high-density collagen fibers.

l Movement Flexibility: The low friction coefficient (0.08-0.12) of bearings ensures that equipment operates as flexibly as human joints, avoiding energy loss due to "stuttering".

Cartilage and Synovial Fluid: Synergy of Self-Lubrication and Wear Resistance
Human cartilage secretes synovial fluid to reduce friction, while the matrix material (such as high-strength brass) and embedded solid lubricants (graphite, molybdenum disulfide) of self-lubricating bearings simulate this "dynamic lubrication mechanism":

l Cartilage Role: The high hardness (HB 180-220) and wear resistance (wear rate 0.5×10⁻⁴ mm³/(N·m)) of high-strength brass resemble the compressive and shear resistance of cartilage, protecting the matrix from direct wear.

l Synovial Fluid Role: The embedded lubricants are uniformly released under frictional heating, forming a nanometer-thick transfer film (approximately 1-5 μm), akin to the protective layer formed by synovial fluid between joint surfaces, achieving continuous lubrication without "additional oil supply".

Immune System: Environmental Adaptability and Self-Repair Potential
Human joints can adapt to temperature changes and resist inflammatory erosion, while self-lubricating bearings cope with complex working conditions through material design:

l Corrosion Resistance: The aluminum and manganese elements in high-strength brass form a passive film, resisting acid, alkali, and seawater corrosion (with a 40% improvement in corrosion resistance over tin brass), similar to the antibacterial components of synovial fluid.

l Fatigue Resistance: Bearings remain stable under frequent start-stops or impact loads (fatigue strength ≥200 MPa), akin to how human joints repair micro-damage through cartilage regeneration.

Case Comparison: Failed Bearings vs. Arthritis

Self-lubricating bearings, like a "smart joint system" for machinery, utilize high-strength brass as the "bone" and solid lubricants as the "synovial fluid" to achieve efficient and long-lasting operation without external intervention. This design not only mimics the exquisite synergy of biological systems but also exceeds physiological limits in performance (such as withstanding temperatures up to 300°C and pressures up to 50 MPa), driving industrial equipment towards more reliable and autonomous evolution.