Bearing Damage Index

Intergranular Craze Cracking

In high-speed turbomachinery bearings, the combination of high surface temperature and high shear rate can lead to the formation of a network of intergranular cracks in the hottest region of the bearing. Excessive lead content in tin-based babbitt can exacerbate this problem.

Addressing the Damage

Consult a bearing engineer regarding two possible solutions:

• Changing the bearing design to reduce the temperature or increase oil film thickness
• Changing to a bearing material with a higher strength and temperature limit

Depending on the cause of the overheating, tin-based babbitt could be replaced with aluminum-based alloys with higher temperature capability, and steel backing could be replaced with copper chromium (Cu/Cr) material to remove the heat more quickly. Replacement with a polymer lining could be appropriate if the main heat source is external to the bearing.