Sleeve Bearing Metallurgy: Material Architectures, Performance Optimization, and Application Engineering
Sleeve bearings, also known as plain bearings, journal bearings, bushings, or sliding bearings, represent one of the most fundamental and widely applied mechanical components in engineering history. Unlike rolling element bearings that utilize balls or rollers to separate moving parts, sleeve bearings employ a sliding action between two conforming surfaces to facilitate linear or rotational movement while reducing friction, absorbing vibration, and supporting loads. The metallurgical composition, material architecture, and manufacturing processes of sleeve bearings directly determine their performance characteristics, service life, and application suitability.