Manufacturing-Morphology-Property Relationships for Chain Joints

In this chapter, correlations between the surface morphology and the functional properties regarding friction and wear are investigated for the tribological contact between pin and bush in drive chains. Using a combination of experimental and simulative methods, influences such as surface topography, shape deviations of the components, lubricants and their contamination as well as boundary conditions with regard to load and relative velocity are determined. Friction and wear on individual chain joints are reliably determined with a single joint test rig. Essential findings are, for example, the strong dependence of wear on the inner contour of the bushings as well as the low influence of hydrodynamic effects on the friction behavior in the chain joint. Surface modifications such as micro-structuring do not bring any advantages in terms of tribological properties.