Development and Performance Evaluation of Oil-retaining Porous Carbon Bearing made from Rice Hull

Abstract

Rice hull, which is one of the agricultural wastes in Japan, has been proposed for reuse from the viewpoint of environment protection. Thus the authors developed a porous carbon (RHSC: Rice Hull Silica Carbon) material utilizing the porous structure of rice hull. RHSC has core competence such as low coefficient of friction and water resistance. The authors developed a bearing (RHSC bearing) which is excellent in weather resistance and water resistance. RHSC bearings are made of agricultural waste as raw material, and it is possible to immobilize carbon. In addition, in order to suppress wear due to dry friction, we have developed oil - retaining RHSC bearing which retains lubricating oil in a porous structure. However, the optimum manufacturing conditions of oil-retaining RHSC, the performance of the RHSC bearing and oil-retaining RHSC bearing has not been evaluated. In this study, the authors focused on the oil impregnation using vacuum and ultrasonic waves. The optimum manufacturing conditions and the relationship between oil content and impregnation time were investigated. In addition, we conducted an actual machine test as a wheelchair bearing and evaluated the performance of the RHSC bearing.