Friction-reducing and vibration-absorbing performances on a novel thermoplastic bearing material reinforced by nano-WS2 and UHMWPE

High performance materials with low friction and high vibration-absorbing properties play a vital role in stable operation of water-lubricated ship stern bearings. Therefore, a TPU composite material reinforced by WS 2 and UHMWPE was prepared. After friction and vibration tests, it was found that WS 2 reduced the coefficient of friction of TPU matrix with its excellent lubricating properties, and after adding UHMWPE, the coefficient of friction continued to drop to 0.07 and became more stable during the whole friction process . The synergistic effect of WS 2 and UHMWPE effectively reduced the friction and amplitude of the composite and made the composite present the best tribological and vibration-absorbing performance. This research provided a basis for the design of new water-lubricated ship bearing materials .