Loading capacity of POM gear under oil lubrication

Abstract

As one of the most common polymer materials, POM gear has been widely applied in automatic transmission boxes, intelligent house devices, etc. Though the mechanical properties of POM material have been extensively studied, the loading capacity and failure mechanism of POM gear still require to be explored. This paper experimentally investigates the loading capacity of medium-module POM gears based upon the durability test under various loading conditions. The POM gears are mated with 18CrNiMo7-6 steel pinions. The tooth wear, surface roughness, and tooth profile evolution are recorded. In the experimental results, the contact fatigue failure was observed in tooth flank of the POM gear with medium modulus under oil lubrication conditions, including tooth surface pitting and fatigue cracks. And according to the experimental durability life data, the contact fatigue S-N curve of POM gear is fitted.