The quest for high-performance energy efficient aircraft turbine engines has led to the development of a number of high-performance rolling element bearing materials and engine lubricants with the aim of providing superior mechanical component durability. The heat treatments/surface treatments used to achieve the desired physical and mechanical properties for these newer alloys can result in altered surface chemistry from currently used materials. Surface chemistry plays an important role during lubricant-bearing material interactions and the formation of beneficial tribological films during component operation. The objective of this study was to analyse the tribo-films formed on bearing surfaces and investigate the interaction of lubricant additives, specifically the phosphorus-based anti-wear additive tricresyl phosphate (TCP), with different bearing materials under relevant bearing operating conditions. Bearing tests were conducted on 208-size (40 mm bore) angular contact bearings at 127°C and 154°C using gas turbine engine lubricants conforming to MIL-PRF-23699G at maximum Hertzian contact stresses of 3.1 GPa and 3.55 GPa. Bearing materials evaluated included AISI M50, M50NiL, nitrided M50NiL (N) and three variants of Pyrowear 675 with silicon nitride rolling elements. Tribo-films were analysed using Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Auger Electron spectroscopy. Results indicate that phosphorus-rich anti-wear tribo-films form on all of the bearing materials studied. The applied thrust load and heat treatment had a significant effect on tribo-film thickness. The study also suggests that current gas turbine engine lubricants formulated with TCP should form beneficial tribo-films that enhance bearing fatigue life and performance.

中文翻译：

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抗磨添加剂 TCP 与先进轴承钢的相互作用

对高性能节能飞机涡轮发动机的追求导致开发了许多高性能滚动元件轴承材料和发动机润滑剂，旨在提供卓越的机械部件耐用性。用于为这些新型合金实现所需物理和机械性能的热处理/表面处理可能会导致当前使用的材料的表面化学性质发生改变。表面化学在润滑剂-轴承材料相互作用和在部件运行过程中形成有益的摩擦膜期间起着重要作用。本研究的目的是分析轴承表面形成的摩擦膜，并研究润滑剂添加剂的相互作用，特别是磷基抗磨添加剂磷酸三甲苯酯 (TCP)，在相关轴承工作条件下使用不同的轴承材料。使用符合 MIL-PRF-23699G 的燃气涡轮发动机润滑油在 3.1 GPa 和 3.55 GPa 的最大赫兹接触应力下对 208 尺寸（40 mm 内径）角接触轴承进行轴承测试。评估的轴承材料包括 AISI M50、M50NiL、氮化 M50NiL (N) 和三种带有氮化硅滚动元件的 Pyrowear 675。使用能量色散 X 射线光谱和俄歇电子能谱分析摩擦膜。结果表明，在所研究的所有轴承材料上都形成了富含磷的抗磨摩擦膜。施加的推力载荷和热处理对摩擦膜厚度有显着影响。