| 摘要 |
A method of making a hydrodynamic ceramic bearing includes the steps of providing ceramic powder comprising a first concentration of particulate aluminum oxide and a second concentration of particulate zirconium oxide alloy. The zirconium oxide alloy consists essentially of zirconium oxide and a secondary oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, Y2O3, Sc2O3, and rare earth oxides. The zirconium oxide alloy has a concentration of the secondary oxide of, in the case of Y2O3, about 0.5 to about 5 mole percent; in the case of MgO, about 0.1 to about 1.0 mole percent, in the case of CeO2, about 0.5 to about 15 mole percent, in the case of Sc2O3, about 0.5 to about 7.0 mole percent and in the case of CaO from about 0.5 to about 5 mole percent, relative to the total of the zirconium oxide alloy, the compacting further comprising forming a blank. A mold is provided for receiving and processing the ceramic powder thereby forming a ceramic billet. Shaping of the ceramic billet is undertaken to form a near net-shaped ceramic bearing. Thereafter, the near net-shaped ceramic bearing is sintered resulting in a sintered ceramic bearing. After sintering, the ceramic bearing is further shaped or machined. After forming the ceramic bearing, at least two air inlet ports are formed in the body portion of the bearing in fluid communication with air channels having preferably a spiral pattern formed in at least one flange portion of the bearing. <IMAGE> |
