A Tribological Study of Antimony-Impregnated Graphite for Steam Mechanical Seals

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering

© 2024 by SSRG - IJME Journal

Volume 11 Issue 7

Year of Publication : 2024

Authors : Lathesh Madhavan, Rahul Waikar, Abhijeet Deshpande

10.14445/23488360/IJME-V11I7P102

How to Cite?

Lathesh Madhavan, Rahul Waikar, Abhijeet Deshpande, "A Tribological Study of Antimony-Impregnated Graphite for Steam Mechanical Seals," SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 11,  no. 7, pp. 13-25, 2024. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V11I7P102

Abstract:

Wear resistance, self-lubrication, and chemical stability of Antimony-Impregnated Graphite (AIG) grades in steam environments make them suitable for mechanical sealing requirements in Rotary Unions in paper manufacturing industries. The working conditions of such seals had been re-created in pin-on-disc tests, and the tribological characteristics were studied. Pins made of three commercial grades of AIG had been tested against Grade 304 Austenitic stainless-steel discs. Pin-on Disc wear tests in constant loading and time-dependent loading conditions were conducted in pressurized steam environments. Scanning Electron Microscopy, EDX, Raman Spectroscopy, and wear track profiles were analyzed on samples. The wear rate of the pins had increased with an increase in load up to a specific limit. Raising the load further caused the stage-wise failure of the transfer film. This resulted in the wear of the metal surface and a reduction in pin wear. This observation corroborated with the components obtained from industrial installations. Sinusoidal loading resulted in microcracks on the loaded surface and rupture of many samples. The wear rate was observed to be reduced due to a much more stable transfer layer.

Keywords:

Antimony-Impregnated Graphite (AIG), Lubrication, Mechanical seals, Tribology, Wear resistance.

References:

[1] Wang Qi-li, Hu Ya-fei, and He Min, “Effect of Filler on the Self-Lubrication Performance of Graphite Antimony Composites,” Journal of China University of Mining and Technology, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 441-443, 2008.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] Jun Zhao et al., “The Tribological Performance of Metal-/Resin-Impregnated Graphite under Harsh Condition,” Lubricants, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1-13, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[3] H. Zaidi, H. Nery, and D. Paulmier, “Stability of Lubricating Properties of Graphite by the Orientation of the Crystallites in the Presence of Water Vapor,” Applied Surface Science, vol. 70-71, pp. 180-185, 1993.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[4] J.K. Lancaster, “A Review of the Influence of Environmental Humidity and Water on Friction, Lubrication, and Wear,” Tribology International, vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 371-386, 1990.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[5] K. Jradi, M. Schmitt, and S. Bistac, “Surface Modifications Induced by the Friction of Graphites Against Steel,” Applied Surface Science, vol. 255, no. 7, pp. 4219-4224, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[6] Hozumi Goto, and Kenji Uchijo, “Wear Mechanism of Al-Si Alloy Impregnated Graphite Composite Under Dry Sliding,” Wear, vol. 259, no. 1- 6, pp. 613-619, 2005.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[7] Stephanie Reich, and Christian Thomsen, “Raman Spectroscopy of Graphite,” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society a Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Science, vol. 362, pp. 2271-2288, 2004.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Jiang-Bin Wu et al., “Raman Spectroscopy of Graphene-Based Materials and its Applications in Related Devices,” Chemical Society Reviews, vol. 47, pp. 1822-1873, 2018.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] Mohammad Asaduzzaman Chowdhury, and Md. Maksud Helali, “The Effect of Amplitude of Vibration on the Coefficient of Friction for Different Materials,” Tribology International, vol. 41, no. 4, pp. 307-314, 2008.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[10] M.A. Chowdhury, and M. Helali, “The Effect of Frequency of Vibration and Humidity on the Coefficient of Friction,” Tribology International, vol. 39, no. 9, pp. 958-962, 2006.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Sudhir Madhav Patil, and B.B. Ahuja, “Effect of Variable Loading Frequency on Wear of PTFE under Dry Sliding Condition Using Novel Variable Loading Wear and Friction Monitor (VLWAFM) Pin-on-disc Sliding Tribometer,” 8 th International Conference on Industrial Tribology (ICIT 2012), pp. 1141-1154, 2012.
[Google Scholar]
[12] Sudhir Madhav Patil, and B.B. Ahuja, “Tribological behavior of PTFE under Variable Loading Dry Sliding condition,” Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series C, vol. 95, no. 2, pp. 179-185, 2014.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] M. Munakata, M. Tsuji, and S. Kasai, “Occlusal Force Pattern during Rhythmic Human Tapping Movement,” Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 265-272, 1991.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] X. Hu et al., “The Influence of Cyclic Loading on the Wear of a Dental Composite,” Biomaterials, vol. 20, no. 10, pp. 907-912, 1999.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] Estevam Barbosa de Las Casas et al., “Determination of Tangential And Normal Components of Oral Forces,” Journal of Applied Oral Science, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 115–118, 2007.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] John Fisher, “Wear of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene in Total Artificial Joints,” Current Orthopaedics, vol. 8, pp. 164-196, 1994.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] Feng Li et al., “Influence of Dynamic Load on Friction Behavior of Human Articular Cartilage, Stainless Steel, and Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel as Artificial Cartilage,” Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 147-154, 2010.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Shashikant S. Goilkar, and Harish Hirani, “Formation of the Transfer Layer and Its Effect on Friction and Wear of Carbon-Graphite Face Seal Under Dry, Water and Steam Environments,” Wear, vol. 266, no. 11-12, pp. 1141-1154, 2009.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] Shashikant S. Goilkar, and Harish Hirani, “Parametric Study on Balance Ratio of Mechanical Face Seal in the Steam Environment,” Tribology International, vol. 43, no. 5-6, pp. 1180-1185, 2010.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] Shashikant S. Goilkar, and Harish Hirani, “Tribological Characterization of Carbon Graphite Secondary Seal,” Indian Journal of Tribology, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 1-6, 2009.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[21] Shashikant S. Goilkar, and Harish Hirani, “Rotordynamic Analysis of Carbon Graphite Seals of a Steam Rotary Joint,” IUTAM Symposium on Emerging Trends in Rotor Dynamics, New Delhi, India, pp. 253-262, 2010.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[22] K.P. Lijesh, and Harish Hirani, “Thermal Analysis of Floating Ring Mechanical Seal,” International Journal of Thermal Technologies, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 28-30, 2015.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]