This specification covers the standard requirements for porous metallic sleeve, flange, thrust, and spherical iron-base bearings that are produced from mixed metal powder metallurgy technology and then impregnated with oil to supply operating lubrication. Porous iron-base bearings shall be produced by compaction of a mixture of elemental iron powder and copper, tin, pre-alloyed bronze or graphite powders and sintering in a furnace having a protective atmosphere at a specified time and temperature cycle. The interconnected or open porosity in the bearings shall be filled to the required volume either by an extended soaking in hot oil or preferably by a vacuum impregnation operation with lubricating oil which is a high-grade turbine oil with antifoaming additives and containing corrosion and oxidation inhibitors. Each of the iron-base bearing material shall conform to the chemical composition requirements for iron, carbon, graphite, copper, and tin as shall be determined by chemical analysis. The physical properties for each of the bearing material shall be within the prescribed wet density, oil content, and impregnation efficiency limits. The radial crushing strength and bearing breaking load of the oil-impregnated bearing material determined on a plain sleeve bearing or a test specimen prepared from a flange or spherical bearing shall also meet the minimum and maximum mechanical strength values.

1.1 This specification covers the requirements for porous iron-base metallic sleeve, flange, thrust, and spherical bearings that are produced from metal powders utilizing powder metallurgy (PM) technology and then impregnated with oil to supply operating lubrication.

1.2 Listed are the chemical, physical, and mechanical specifications for those standardized ferrous PM materials that have been developed specifically for the manufacture of self-lubricating bearings.

1.3 This specification is a companion to Specification B438 that covers the requirements for porous oil-impregnated bronze-base bearings.

1.4 Typical applications for self-lubricating iron-base PM bearings are discussed in Appendix X1.

1.5 Commercial bearing dimensional tolerance data are shown in Appendix X2, while engineering information regarding installation and operating parameters of PM bearings is included in Appendix X3. Additional useful information on self-lubricating bearings can be found in MPIF Standard 35 (Bearings), ISO 5755, and the technical literature.2

1.6 Units—With the exception of the values for density and the mass used to determine density, for which the use of the gram per cubic centimetre (g/cm³) and gram (g) units is the long-standing practice of the PM industry, the values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not to be regarded as standard.

1.7 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods described in this specification. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.