Overview

The Basics of Overheating

Overheating of a component or assembly results from excess friction, load, or both. Overheating can occur in power transmission systems using gears and bearings, actuators, or any mechanical assembly that involves relative motion between two or more components.

In this context, overheating refers to the operating temperature of a component or assembly operating in excess of its intended temperature. In some applications, component temperature is measured directly, but more often temperature is monitored by continuous measurement of the lubricant or coolant temperatures. Assemblies operating above their intended temperature will shorten the life of the lubricant and reduce the mechanical properties and load carrying capacity of the assembly, both of which can introduce new failure modes such as temper softening and adhesive wear.

Several factors influence the occurrence and severity of overheating in industrial applications. Some key variables include:

Applied Load: Higher loads will increase the amount of friction and heat.
Coefficient of Friction: Materials and coatings with high COF will generate more heat than those with lower COF.
Lubrication System Effectiveness: In addition to reducing COF, most lube systems provide significant cooling as well. Anything that compromises lube system effectiveness can lead to overheating.
Operating Conditions: Extreme ambient conditions can reduce the effectiveness of the cooling (reduced heat rejection capacity) and lubrication systems (reduced lube viscosity) and promote overheating.

Proper Design: Ensure the system is designed (including materials and coatings) to accommodate the highest anticipated loading conditions.
Material Selection: Choose materials, surface finishes, and coatings to minimize friction and heat production.
Proper Lubrication: Ensure that lube and cooling systems are designed with adequate capacity.
Operating Conditions: Understand the expected usage environment and design the lube and cooling systems accordingly.

Armoloy's Solution to Overheating

Armoloy offers multiple metal surface treatments with varying levels of protection from the common causes of overheating. Offering both broad-spectrum and industry-specific applications, our protective metallic coatings add significant value through increased performance and decreased revenue losses from unplanned maintenance and downtime.

Our protective coatings ensure a thin, precise coat that won’t impact production, but will improve surface hardness and prevent environmental defects. Beyond increasing wear life, Armoloy tailors our metallic coatings based on the specific requirements of your application and industry.

Beyond the Lab: Metal Failures in Narrative Form

Other Metal Failure Modes

Other common metal failures include:

Overheating can also result from, or be a precursor to, other potential metal failures

Friction

Adhesive Wear

Abrasive Wear

Rolling Contact Fatigue

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Overheating