KGBAL Group’s Ningbo Shuguang Electromechanical Manufacturing Co., Ltd. PTFE Project has been awarded the Second Prize of the China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Award.

Release date:

2021-12-30

Author:

It has recently been learned that the project “Research and Application of Key Technologies for High-Performance PTFE-Fiber-Braided Liner Self-Lubricating Spherical Bearings,” jointly developed by KGBAL Group’s Shuguang Electromechanical Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Henan University of Science and Technology, has been awarded the Second Prize of the China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Award.

　　It has recently been learned that the project “Research and Application of Key Technologies for High-Performance PTFE-Fiber-Braided Liner Self-Lubricating Joint Bearings,” jointly developed by KGBAL Group’s Shuguang Mechanical & Electrical Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Henan University of Science and Technology, has been awarded the Second Prize of the China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Award.

　　The excerpt from the original text is as follows:

　　As high‑performance fiber‑reinforced self‑lubricating spherical bearings continue to see expanding applications in aerospace, high‑speed transportation, military equipment, and other fields, a growing number of failure modes under extreme operating conditions have emerged—most notably bearing wear failure, which poses the greatest threat to high‑end host systems and can result in substantial economic losses. Consequently, the bottleneck technologies that currently hinder the improvement of quality in domestically produced high‑performance fiber‑reinforced self‑lubricating spherical bearings urgently require resolution.
　　PTFE‑fiber‑braided liner self‑lubricating joint bearings exhibit low noise, zero oil contamination, a low coefficient of friction, and environmental friendliness. Accordingly, by conducting research on key technologies—including structural design, optimization of bonding processes, and performance evaluation—this work aims to extend the service life and enhance the reliability of such joint bearings, thereby elevating the technological level of related high‑end equipment. The main innovative achievements are as follows:
　　1) An evaluation parameter—curved-surface peel strength—was proposed to quantitatively characterize the bonding quality of PTFE fiber‑lined joint bearings, thereby addressing the technical challenge in China of relying heavily on engineering experience to qualitatively assess bearing liner bond quality and enabling an objective assessment of product quality.
　　2) A pre‑treatment bonding method for PTFE‑fiber‑lined joint bearings has been developed, which increases bond strength by 47% and achieves or surpasses the performance specifications of comparable foreign products, thereby breaking the foreign technology monopoly.
　　3) A novel method for evaluating the tribological performance of self-lubricating spherical plain bearings has been proposed. This research has been submitted for one national invention patent and is currently undergoing substantive examination and public notice.
　　4) A composite oscillating joint bearing friction and wear testing machine has been independently developed. This machine can simultaneously evaluate friction and wear performance under combined tilting and rotational oscillation conditions, overcoming the limitations of existing single‑direction oscillation testing. This achievement has been granted one utility model patent and has a national invention patent pending. In addition, an oscillating device for high‑frequency, high‑torque joint bearings has been independently designed, enabling the test machine to achieve an oscillation frequency that surpasses the severe domestic limitation of only 1 Hz, thereby significantly expanding the scope of performance evaluation. This innovation has also been granted one national utility model patent.
　　5) For the first time, the hierarchical relationships among the factors influencing the tribological performance of fiber‑woven liner joint bearings were established, providing a technical basis for optimizing the bonding process. This approach can significantly enhance product quality.
　　6) The study reveals the correlation between the bonding quality of joint bearings and their dynamic performance: when the bearing’s bond strength increases by 47%, the dynamic friction coefficient decreases by 17%, and the wear life is extended by more than 20%.
　　The research findings have been implemented at Ningbo Shuguang Electromechanical Manufacturing Co., Ltd., enhancing the performance of the company’s PTFE‑fiber‑braided, self‑lubricating joint bearings. The related products have already been put into practical use: (1) in large quantities as vibration‑isolating supports for Shanghai’s maglev track beams; (2) in bulk for the hydraulic and adaptive suspension systems of German Mercedes‑Benz heavy‑duty trucks; and (3) successfully integrated into the active suspension system of Porsche racing cars. Moreover, these results can be extended to aerospace, heavy machinery, and military‑industrial equipment, playing a significant role in advancing technological progress in the mechanical engineering sector. Over the past three years, the direct economic benefits have totaled RMB 23.8 million, with foreign‑exchange earnings of US$5.64 million. When considering the most recent five years, the indirect economic benefits are even more substantial, reaching RMB 900 million.