Bearing element

p0001The invention relates to a bearing element with a metallic support body, arranged above a bearing metal layer and a polymer disposed over this layer, the polymer layer is a polyimide resin, molybdenum disulphide (MOS₂includes) and graphite, a motor having a shaft which is supported by a bearing element, said bearing element comprises at least one metallic supporting body and a bearing metal layer arranged above it. A generic storage element is known for example from<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="GB2345095A"><text>GB 2345095 A</text></patcit> known. The<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1764522A"><text>EP 1764 522 A</text></patcit>, Prior art under Article 54 (3) EPC, shows a further storage element.

p0002Coatings tribologically stressed components or surfaces should satisfy various requirements. Firstly, a low-friction coating is desired, which is relatively soft and which can therefore adapt well to wear-related abrasion and the sliding partner. On the other hand must be given a sufficiently high mechanical stability and strength to accommodate addition to the static and dynamic vibration loads can, thereby increasing durability and service life. The developments, for example in the motor industry, go towards higher specific services to increase the efficiency and thus the efficiency and environmental performance of internal combustion engines, especially in terms of increasingly stringent emissions standards. From this development a number of components of an engine are affected, such as the very high by the torque and the steadily rising for optimizing the combustion process ignition pressures, for example, a direct-injection turbo-diesel engine, very highly loaded journal bearings. Through the powerful injection of these engines are also the components of the injection pumps and their measuring instruments or by higher performance, other components, such as tappets, pins or rollers which are gleitbeansprucht, exposed to these high loads. Common aluminum alloys are used for these components, since it generally a good relationship between achievable properties and costs to be incurred can be achieved.

p0003Recent developments in this area show - although their principal use in this area has been known for several years - increasing the use of so-called solid film lubricants.

p0004Thus, eg <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE2206400A"><text>DE 22 06 400 A</text></patcit> includes a composite material with a metallic support body and an adhesively connected to the supporting body friction or sliding layer of thermally stable plastics which wärmhärtbare polyimide and the running properties of the bearing improving additives as Polytetafluorethylen, metallic bearing alloys or the like., the friction or the sliding layer. the polyimide and the running property-improving additives as a mixture of fine-grained or fine powder form, and as binder polyimide varnish which binds both the fine-grained or fine-powdered mixture in the friction or sliding layer and the friction or sliding layer even connects to the supporting body. The overlay can contain 70-20 wt .-% thermosetting polyimide resins and about 30 to 80 wt .-% self-lubricating additives. As self-lubricating additives graphite, molybdenum disulfide and oxides are mentioned.

p0005From the <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="EP0939106A"><text>EP 0939106 A</text></patcit> is a sliding layer material is known which contains a matrix material PTFE or PTFE in combination with other fluorinated thermoplastics whose melting point is above 260 ° C, at least one powdered polyaramide is included, the ratio based on the total amount of PTFE or the mixture of PTFE and other fluorinated thermoplastics and the polyaramid 10 to 50 vol .-%.

p0006Also in the <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP1236914A"><text>EP 1236914 A</text></patcit> is a slide bearing described which has a resin coating on a bearing metal layer, wherein the resin coating comprises a thermosetting resin having specific physical properties in an amount of 70 to 30 vol .-% is added self-lubricating additives in an extent of 30 to 70 vol .-% and wherein the Vickers hardness is not more than 20th The resin may be for example a polyamide. As self-lubricating additives molybdenum disulfide, graphite, boron nitride, tungsten disulphide, polytetrafluoroethylene, lead etc. may be mentioned.

p0007Polymers for use as a coating material of sliding elements are also described in the following documents:<ul><li><patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US5525246A"><text>US 5,525,246 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="JP60001424A"><text>JP 60-1424 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="EP0984182A"><text>EP 0984182 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="JP4083914A"><text>JP 04-83914 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0010" dnum="JP7247493A"><text>JP 07-247493 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0011" dnum="GB2337306A"><text>GB 2337306 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0012" dnum="JP9079262A"><text>JP 09-79262 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0013" dnum="JP2001173644A"><text>JP 2001/173644 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0014" dnum="DE2000632A"><text>DE 20 00 632 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0015" dnum="DE3343309A"><text>DE 33 43 309 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0016" dnum="DE3221785A"><text>DE 32 21 785 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0017" dnum="WO9738046A"><text>WO 97/38046 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0018" dnum="EP0340839A"><text>EP 0340839 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0019" dnum="EP0044577A"><text>EP 0044577 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0020" dnum="EP0340838A"><text>EP 0340838 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0021" dnum="DE2415327A"><text>DE 24 15 327 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0022" dnum="EP060725A"><text>EP 060 725 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0023" dnum="DE19814756A"><text>DE 198 14 756 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0024" dnum="US4618270A"><text>US 4,618,270 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0025" dnum="DE2504833A"><text>DE 25 04 833 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0026" dnum="FR2133320A"><text>FR 21 33 320 A</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0027" dnum="GB2384033B"><text>GB 2,384,033 B</text></patcit>. <patcit id="pcit0028" dnum="JP53007780A"><text>JP 53-007780 A</text></patcit>,</li></ul>

p0008The invention has for its object to provide a bearing element with a polymer coating is available, having improved properties.

p0009This object of the invention is achieved by a bearing element according to claim 1 or with an engine according to claim 12th

p0010Compared to plain area used bonded coatings, the composition of the invention shows surprisingly, despite the high proportion of MoS₂ and graphite in the polyimide resin, an unexpected improvement in wear resistance of the bearing element. Not expecting is because one would expect with decreasing polyimide resin, which can be, inter alia, considered as a binder for the friction-reducing additives, that the cohesion of the layer is deteriorated, that this ultimately "crumbles". The selected proportion of MoS₂ and graphite, in particular the ratio of the proportion of MoS₂ to graphite, this does not occur, the applicant for the material time this has no explanatory theory. However, there is an interaction between the MoS₂ - And graphite suspected.

p0011In addition to improved wear resistance, an improvement of Kavitationswiderstandes is achieved with the bearing element of the invention further. In addition, a decreased susceptibility to corrosion was found.

p0012According to the invention, the polymer layer is applied directly to the bearing metal layer, ie, commonly used in conventional known from the prior art bearings, nickel layer as a diffusion barrier is no longer necessary, so that an inventive bearing element is at least equivalent to conventional multilayer plain bearings not only in terms of its mechanical properties, but in addition, a corresponding cost advantage can be achieved in the manufacture of the bearing element according to the invention.

p0013Another advantage is that the polymer layer of the invention is not limited to special bearing elements, but can be applied to each bearing metal according to current knowledge.

p0014In the past, there was the case of aluminum-bearing materials to bearing failures, which are believed to be caused on a material transfer and microwelding of the bearing material to the shaft, through micro-movements due. Such material transfers can occur if the shaft resting rests on the bearing, the whole system but micro-movements, while transporting an assembled engine to the site, or the operation of several motors side by side, not all run at the same time, performs. In the motor according to the invention this is prevented in an advantageous manner through the polymer layer, since this layer has practically no affinity for the steel. However, even if a material transfer in small measure takes place, for example by embedding the bonded coating in the Rautiefenprofil the shaft, this also is not a problem, since that forms subsequently bonded coating - Bonded Coating - pairing an even lower coefficient of friction than the pairing lubricating varnish having -steel.

p0015It is also advantageous that the proportion of MoS₂ is selected from a range with a lower limit of 17% and an upper limit of 22% and a lower limit of 18.5% and an upper limit of 21.5% and that the proportion of MoS₂ is 20%.

p0016It is also provided in further developments that the proportion of graphite is selected from a range with a lower limit of 7% and an upper limit of 13% and an upper limit of 8.5% and an upper limit of 11.5% and . the proportion of graphite is 10%.

p0017In all these variants - or even in all the following information to uneren and upper range limits - it is possible that the respective proportions if necessary also be selected from the respective border areas between the lower limits or upper limits.

p0018The measures mentioned above, it is not only possible to optimize with respect to all properties of the polymer layer to achieve, but it is thus possible specific individual characteristics such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance, resistance to seizure, etc., at the respective application adjust, even if this is accompanied by that the other properties of the polymer layer are not improved to the same extent.

p0019The MoS₂ can platelets have an average length selected from a range with a lower limit of 10 microns and an upper limit of 40 microns or a lower limit of 15 microns and an upper limit of 35 microns or a lower limit of 18 microns and a upper limit of 25 microns and / or an average width selected from a range with a lower limit of 10 microns and an upper limit of 40 microns, or a lower limit of 15 microns and an upper limit of 35 microns, or a lower limit of 18 microns and an upper limit of 25 microns and / or a mean height selected from a range with a lower limit of 2 nm and an upper limit of 20 nm and a lower limit of 5 nm and an upper limit of 15 nm or a lower limit of 5 nm and an upper limit of 8 nm can be selected.

p0020It is also possible that a graphite having a particle size selected from a range with a lower limit of 2 microns and an upper limit is 8 microns.

p0021The ratio of MoS₂ to graphite may be selected in accordance with an embodiment of the invention from a range with a lower limit of 1.5: 1 and an upper limit of 4.5: 1.

p0022It can thus be varied within wide limits the self-lubricating behavior of the polymer layer, so that, where appropriate, taking account of the proportions of MoS₂ or graphite, ie, varying the content ratios, these two additives to polyimide resin, in turn, at least one of the properties of the polymer layer can be particularly adapted to the respective application.

p0023The bearing metal layer may be formed by an alloy selected from a group consisting of aluminum-based alloys, tin-based alloys, lead-based alloys, copper based alloys, CuPb based alloys, AlSn based alloys, alloys AlZn-, AlSi-, AlSnSi-, CuAl, CuSn, CuZn, CuSnZn-, CuZnSn-, CuBi- and AlBi base, which are known for their properties from the relevant literature on bearing elements sufficiently respect, so that further discussion at this point is unnecessary. There is thus the advantage achieved is that the adhesive strength of the polymer layer is improved on these bearing metal materials without the use of any necessary bonding layers.

p0024The polymer layer is to be arranged directly on the bearing metal layer, so, can be dispensed with commonly used diffusion barrier layers such as nickel dams.

p0025It is also possible, in particular at a sufficient adhesive strength that the bearing metal layer is disposed directly on the supporting body, so again without the arrangement of intermediate layers and adhesion promoters, which can simplify the structure of the bearing element and thus optionally also the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

p0026As beneficial has also been found in the course of testing of the bearing element of the invention that it is advantageous if the surface of the polymer layer having an arithmetic mean roughness Ra according to DIN EN ISO 4287 or ASME B 46.1, selected from a range with a lower limit of 0.2 microns and an upper limit of 1.5 microns and a lower limit of 0.5 microns and an upper limit of 1.0 microns and a lower limit of 0.8 microns and an upper limit of 0.9 microns, or if in accordance with other embodiments, the surface of the polymer layer has a maximum roughness Rz according to DIN EN ISO 4287 or ASME B 46.1, selected from a range with a lower limit of 0.5 .mu.m and an upper limit of 10 microns or a lower limit of 3 microns and an upper limit of 8 microns and a lower limit of 5 microns and an upper limit of 6 microns.

p0027By these measures the one hand ensures that during the run-in phase due to the profile peaks a - seen in relation to the entire inner surface of the bearing element - reduced contact surface is formed to shaft to be supported and thus less friction than solely on the basis of material selection or a polyimide resin -steel-pairing would be expected, are predominant and on the other hand, where appropriate, as far off after this run-in phase of these peaks that the bearing has the necessary clearance tolerances.

p0028The polymer layer may have an average thickness selected from a range with a lower limit of 1 .mu.m and an upper limit of 40 microns or a lower limit of 3 microns and an upper limit of 30 microns or a lower limit of 4 microns and an upper limit of 25 microns, whereby the bearing element, in turn, can be adapted to the particular application, such as warehouse or small bearing, and thus in the long term reliable seizures, constant properties of the bearing element a corresponding cost optimization is achieved.

p0029The polymer layer advantageously has a Vickers hardness of selected from a range with a lower limit of 20 HV and an upper limit of 45 HV, or a lower limit of 22 HV and an upper limit of 35 HV or a lower limit of 25 HV and an upper limit of 30 HV, thereby correspondingly improved sliding properties are achieved with sufficient fatigue strength of the bearing element.

p0030In particular, the bearing element is designed as a plain bearing shell or -halbschale or bushing.

p0031It is thus possible to provide motors directly from the producer completed without take special precautions or without running the risk that takes place Materialverschweißung the bearing material on the shaft due to the transportation of the already finished engines. It is thus possible, such components pre-assembled to the relevant customers, in particular the automotive industry, which is well known treads the path propagated to buy ready-made components, to provide with lower default rates of the components.

p0032For a better understanding, the invention is further illustrated by the following figures.

p0033These respectively in simplified schematic representation:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>an inventive bearing element in the form of a plain bearing half-shell;</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a diagram in which the respective maximum load in dependence of varying proportions of MoS₂ and graphite, is illustrated.</dd></dl>

p0034By way of introduction it is noted that in the embodiments variously described the same parts with the same reference numbers or the same component names, whereby the disclosures contained throughout the description can be transferred analogously to the same parts with the same reference numbers or same component names. Also, the positions chosen for purposes of the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., relate to the drawing specifically being described and illustrated, and are appropriately transferred to the new position when another position.

p0035The bearing element 1 according to <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is made of a supporting body 2, a bearing metal layer 3 and a polymer layer 4 constructed as a sliding layer. The support body 2 is usually made of steel, but can of course also be made of similar materials, which fulfill the same or a similar function, namely to provide the mechanical strength of the bearing element 1, can be realized. The mechanical strength of the entire bearing element 1 is dependent on the respective field of application, so for example, various copper alloys, such as brass, bronze, can be used. In addition, a certain dimensional stability is ensured by the support body. 2

p0036The bearing metal layer 3 is formed by a bearing metal alloy. This consists in this embodiment from an aluminum matrix in which at least one soft phase and hard particles are embedded. The at least one soft phase may be consisting of tin, antimony, indium and bismuth formed by at least one element selected from a first element group. The hard particles may be for example formed of at least one element selected from a second group of elements comprising copper, manganese, cobalt, chromium and iron or the elements scandium and / or zirconium. It is also possible that these hard particles are constructed by intermetallic phases in particular from the latter elements or the elements of the second group of elements with aluminum or by formed from the elements mentioned intermetallic phases.

p0037but of course may be included in the bearing metal alloy, any other known from the prior art soft phases and / or hard particles.

p0038With the help of the soft phase, it is possible to impart the bearing element 1 runflat when in the polymer layer 4 formed as a result of the operation of the bearing element 1 defect sites, so the bearing metal layer 3 at least approximately directly with a component to be supported, such as a wave comes into contact , It is thus the bearing element 1 also awarded an embeddability originating from the abrasion due to the use of the bearing element 1 solid particles. The hard particles give the aluminum alloy the required mechanical strength.

p0039The bearing metal layer 3 in particular alloys tin, bismuth, indium, lead or aluminum-based alloys as well as useful to optionally hochbleihältiger, CuPboder on AlSn or AlBi basis. In particular, tin-based alloys höherzinnhältige advantageous. Even lead free copper based alloys are used.

p0040Usable storage metals based on copper would be example CuPb22Sn2, CuPb10Sn10, CuPb15Sn7, CUSN6, CuSn4 Zn 1. In particular, lead-free copper alloys CuAl, CuSn, CuZn, CuSnZn-, CuZnSn- and CuBi base are in regard to the lower environmental impact of advantage.

p0041Usable bearing metals tin would for example SnSb8Cu4, SnSb12Cu6Pb.

p0042Usable storage metals based on lead would for example PbSb10Sn6, PbSb15Sn10, PbSbI5SnAs.

p0043Bearing metals Aluminum base can form for example AlSn40, AlSn20, AlSn25, AlSn10, AlSn6, etc..

p0044It is further possible bearing metals AlZn base such as AlZn4SiPb or AlSi base such as A1Si11CuMgNi, or AlSnSi base such as AlSn20Si4 to use.

p0045The polymer layer 4 is made of a polyamide imide resin, molybdenum disulfide and graphite, the proportion of the polyamide-imide resin on the polymer layer 4 is selected from a range with a lower limit of 60% and an upper limit of 80%, the proportion of MoS₂Selected from a range with a lower limit of 15% and an upper limit of 25% and the proportion of graphite is selected from a range with a lower limit of 5% and an upper limit of 15%.

p0046The resin may be present in at least one solvent, especially an organic solvent such as xylene, whereby the processability can be facilitated. The proportion of solvent may be selected from a range with a lower limit of 40 wt .-% and an upper limit of 80 wt .-%, in particular with a lower limit of 50 wt .-% and an upper limit of 70 wt %, preferably with a lower limit of 60 wt .-% and an upper limit of 65 wt .-%, based on the resin content, ie resin with solvent. It is thus the dry resin content, in particular of polyamide imide, be selected from a range with a lower limit of 20 wt .-% and an upper limit of 50 wt .-%, in particular a lower limit of 30 wt .-% and an upper limit of 40 wt .-%, preferably a lower limit of 35 wt .-% and an upper limit of 37.5 wt .-%. In relation to this, an inventively applied polymer layer 4, for example a dry composition of 35 wt .-% polyamide imide, 45 wt .-% MoS₂ and 20 wt .-% of graphite exhibit or a dry composition which is calculated from the given value ranges for the individual contents of the polymer layer. 4

p0047It is also particularly advantageous if a ratio between the amounts of MoS₂ and graphite is selected in the polymer layer 4 of a range from 1.5: 1 to 4.5: 1, for example 1.5: 1 to 2.5: 1.

p0048With the inventive composition for the polymer layer 4, it is possible to realize a running layer with good sliding properties, the possibly even allows a dry run. This is characterized in particular by low maintenance. It is a lubricant or no lubricant-free operation possible. If givers can be a lubrication by water to achieve, which is particularly advantageous if the bearing element according to the invention is used for example for 1 pump. Besides a corresponding weight reduction, a lower edge pressure sensitivity is observed.

p0049The bearing element 1 of the invention, instead of forming a plain bearing half-shell, as in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shown, also be used anderwärtig, for example as a thrust ring, bush, etc., in particular for use in the motor industry.

p0050In Table 1 are examples of compositions selected from the novel ranges of the shares of the polyimide resin with solvent to be removed, of MoS₂ and graphite for the polymer layer 4 together, which of course are not to be understood limiting for the invention but simply to illustrate these examples the inventive character. <tables id="tabl0001" num="0001"><table frame="all"><title>Table 1:</title><tgroup cols="4"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="10mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="16mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="21mm" /><thead><row><entry align="center" valign="top">No.</entry><entry align="center" valign="top">PA I (%)</entry><entry align="center" valign="top">MoS₂ (%)</entry><entry align="center" valign="top">Graphite (%)</entry></row></thead><tbody><row><entry align="center">1</entry><entry align="center">60</entry><entry align="center">25</entry><entry align="center">15</entry></row><row><entry align="center">2</entry><entry align="center">62</entry><entry align="center">25</entry><entry align="center">13</entry></row><row><entry align="center">3</entry><entry align="center">65</entry><entry align="center">20</entry><entry align="center">15</entry></row><row><entry align="center">4</entry><entry align="center">68</entry><entry align="center">17</entry><entry align="center">15</entry></row><row><entry align="center">5</entry><entry align="center">70</entry><entry align="center">20</entry><entry align="center">10</entry></row><row><entry align="center">6</entry><entry align="center">72</entry><entry align="center">20</entry><entry align="center">8th</entry></row><row><entry align="center">7</entry><entry align="center">61</entry><entry align="center">25</entry><entry align="center">14</entry></row><row><entry align="center">8th</entry><entry align="center">65</entry><entry align="center">23</entry><entry align="center">12</entry></row><row><entry align="center">9</entry><entry align="center">70</entry><entry align="center">25</entry><entry align="center">5</entry></row><row><entry align="center">10</entry><entry align="center">75</entry><entry align="center">15</entry><entry align="center">10</entry></row><row><entry align="center">11</entry><entry align="center">65</entry><entry align="center">25</entry><entry align="center">10</entry></row><row><entry align="center">12</entry><entry align="center">77</entry><entry align="center">15</entry><entry align="center">8th</entry></row><row><entry align="center">13</entry><entry align="center">78</entry><entry align="center">12</entry><entry align="center">10</entry></row><row><entry align="center">14</entry><entry align="center">80</entry><entry align="center">15</entry><entry align="center">5</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

p0051With this composition each bearing elements 1 were prepared, consisting of a steel backing, on a CuPb22Sn2 bearing metal and on the polymer layer 4 is applied. It has been shown in the following investigations that with this composition very similar properties of the bearing element 1 arise, so the way of example only these properties are discussed on the basis of a bearing element 1 with a polymer layer 4 containing 70% polyimide resin, 20% MoS₂ and 10% graphite.

p0052Based on a critical load against seizure of 100% for this invention bearing shows in comparison to a standard bearing of the prior art with a PTFE coating on AlSn 40 only poorer by about 87% value under the same experimental conditions.

p0053The wear resistance was measured on a bearing with the same dimensions and the same lubrication conditions. It has been found that the polymer layer 4 according to the invention achieved in comparison with respect to a PTFE layer one about 8 times better value. Wear resistance.

p0054In further investigations the polymer layer of the invention 4 of this composition to a was also applied to a bearing metal layer of CuPb22Sn2 or AlSn 25 and was able to be found that the wear resistance varies within +/- 5% of the value which is achieved with AlSn40 , which implies that the polymer layer 4 according to the invention can be applied to all current bearing metals, at least, without changing the excellent properties seriously.

p0055were appropriate improvements will be achieved also in terms of corrosion.

p0056In <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> is the corrosion limit in percent against the graphite content and the MoS₂Stake respectively plotted in percent, of the composition of 70% resin, 20% MoS₂ and 10% graphite, the value is normalized 100%, and can respectively reach values ​​in Table 2 are taken. This graph is very clear that the inventive composite polymer layer 4, ie provided therewith bearing elements 1 have significantly better results in terms of corrosion limit than is the case with appropriate polyimide resin layers, which are known from the prior art.<tables id="tabl0002" num="0002"><table frame="all"><title>Table 2:</title><tgroup cols="4"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="21mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="12mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="11mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="12mm" /><thead><row><entry align="right" valign="top">Graphite [%]</entry><entry align="center" valign="top">5</entry><entry align="center" valign="top">10</entry><entry align="center" valign="top">15</entry></row><row><entry valign="top">MoS₂ [%]</entry><entry valign="top" /><entry valign="top" /><entry valign="top" /></row></thead><tbody><row><entry align="center">15</entry><entry align="center" /><entry align="center" /><entry align="center">91.8</entry></row><row><entry align="center">20</entry><entry align="center">98</entry><entry align="center">100</entry><entry align="center" /></row><row><entry align="center">40</entry><entry align="center">65.8</entry><entry align="center" /><entry align="center">67.4</entry></row><row><entry align="center">60</entry><entry align="center">47.5</entry><entry align="center" /><entry align="center" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

p0057In view of the self-lubricating behavior has been found that an improvement in properties can be achieved if MoS₂Platelets are used, with the dimensions already mentioned.

p0058It is also advantageous if the graphite with a particle size selected from a range with a lower limit of 2 microns and an upper limit is used by 8 microns.

p0059A further improvement of the properties, particularly the wear resistance to cavitation and corrosion resistance, both in the running-in behavior and in continuous operation is to achieve, when using the invention composite polymer layer 4 a bearing element 1 is produced, in which this polymer layer 4 has a roughness, with values ​​for the roughness profile Rz according to DIN ISO 4287 or ASME B 46.1bzw. arithmetic Mittenrauwerten Ra also after DIN ISO 4287 or ASME B 46.1, according to the already mentioned values ​​or selected from the above-mentioned fields.

p0060The manufacture of the bearing element 1 according to the invention is performed such that a metallic support body 2, the bearing metal layer 3 is produced with known from the prior art methods, such as rolling, casting, sintering, electrolytic deposition, by using sputtering method. In this bearing metal layer 3, the polymer layer 4 according to the invention can also be known from the prior art methods, such as spraying or coating, are produced, said polymer layer can lastly be heat treated. Appropriate pretreatments are also known in the prior art, so that a further discussion is superfluous at this point.

p0061The polymer layer 4 according to the invention is also particularly suitable for the finishing of bearing elements 1 for engines, said polymer layer 4 is used as a protective layer or "packaging layer", a material transfer from the shaft to the bearing metal or bearing element 1 and thus a microwelding which result leads to the failure of the engine to avoid. In order to achieve or enhance this effect, it is also possible to coat the shaft itself with the polymer layer 4th In general, therefore, the polymer layer 4 used as a so-called protective layer against these microwelding, caused by transfer of material from a mounted component to a corresponding bearing component.

p0062For the record, it is noted that for a better understanding of the structure bearing element 1, it and its constituent parts are not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

p0063<dl id="dl0002"><dt>1</dt><dd>bearing element</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>supporting body</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>Bearing metal layer</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>polymer layer</dd></dl>