Differences in Mechanisms for Fretting Wear Reduction between Oil and Grease Lubrication

The different mechanisms of fretting wear in oil and grease lubrication and methods to reduce fretting wear were examined by means of thrust ball bearings in this study. Tests of fretting wear under oil lubrication were conducted. It was confirmed that high-viscosity oil can reduce fretting wear at high velocity (i.e., high frequency) through oil film formation. In the case of grease lubrication, the influence of velocity on fretting wear was significantly different for low- and high-viscosity greases. Grease with low-viscosity base oils could reduce fretting wear at high velocity. In contrast, grease with high-viscosity base oils could reduce fretting wear at low velocity. Grease thickeners were found to be effective in forming a layer that could prevent fretting wear. These results highlight the large differences in effective fretting wear reduction mechanisms between oil and grease lubrication.