Using magnetic fluids to improve the behavior of ball bearings under starved lubrication

In this paper, an attempt has been made to use magnetic fluids as lubricant to improve the operation performance of thrust ball bearing under starved lubrication conditions. For this purpose, magnetic field distributed on the raceway was generated by permanent magnet. The anti-spread ability of the lubricant on the bearing race was evaluated by centrifugal experiment. Friction test was performed and the result was presented as the friction moment of the bearing under the limited volume of magnetic fluids lubrication. The preliminary experiments indicate that, magnetic fluids under proper magnetic field can be used to reduce lubricant loss, and thus delay the starvation. •Magnetic fluids was used as lubricant to control ball bearing starvation.•The anti-spread ability of magnetic fluids was improved under magnetic field.•Conventional lubricant plays a limited effectiveness to avoid starvation.•Magnetic fluids could be controlled in mechanical contacts and delay the starvation.