Experimental diagnostics of PEEK reinforced with PTFE, carbon fiber, and graphite composite deep groove ball bearings for characteristics through vibration signal processing

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance polymer commonly used in tribology applications due to its exceptional properties. This study examines the feasibility of utilising PEEK and PEEK reinforced by 10% of each carbon fibre, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and graphite for radial deep groove ball-bearing applications through vibration signals. The bearing parts were manufactured by machining of a rod, while the nylon-based bearing cage was fabricated with a selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer, and AISI 316L balls were used. A set of bearings was subjected to 5 million rotation cycles under minimal load, during which the vibrational amplitude and RPM signal were continuously recorded. The dynamic characteristics of the bearings were measured using eddy probes at the beginning of the test and after the completion of five million cycles. Subsequently, a rolling contact fatigue test (RCF) was performed to evaluate the load-bearing capacity of the bearings, recording amplitude and RPM. Throughout the tests, signals and bearing characteristics were captured using a 6-channel DAQ system. The results indicate that the materials can be used for ball-bearing applications and can withstand radial loads of up to 108 N without failure.