Development of Solid Lubricants Dispersed Bronze Bearing Material by Powder Metallurgy (First Report)

In order to develop Graphite dispersed sintered bronze bearing material standing in the use of a higher load application, effects of Cr addition on sintering properties and microstructures of the bronze matrix were investigated. Mixed powders were prepared from elemental Cr powders and atomized 90Cu-10Sn powders, of which particle sizes were 106-50μm and 1-38μm, respectively. Compacts pressed at 390 MPa were sintered at 670-1030 K for 0.3-180 ks in H2. With increasing sintering time at 1030 K, pores decrease rapidly with the refinement of grain size in the bronze matrix surrounding Cr particle. This indicates that the densification of the bronze is promoted by the diffusion of Cr.