Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
(OP)
Hello,
I am conducting an experiment with bobsleigh runners. I'm basically looking for the best type of lubricant to reduce friction between the ice and the steel runner. Should I be looking into greases? teflon? polyurea coatings? What would be the recommendations of some experts in the field of metal and reduction of friction? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!
I am conducting an experiment with bobsleigh runners. I'm basically looking for the best type of lubricant to reduce friction between the ice and the steel runner. Should I be looking into greases? teflon? polyurea coatings? What would be the recommendations of some experts in the field of metal and reduction of friction? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!





RE: Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
One thing that might be worth pursuing is a ceramic coating. Even the smoothest knife tends to have a "stiction" when cutting meat, but a ceramic knife tends to glide a bit more. Obviously, meat is not the same as ice, but perhaps the effects are similar.
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
http://www.fibt.com/uploads/media/2012_Internation...
F.I.B.t. says stuff like this
10.8.2 Runners
..........only FIBT standard runners (standard material) are admitted. The authenticity of the runner steel may be controlled by the FIBT Jury and/or FIBT Materials Inspectors at any time. To establish the authenticity of the runner steel,
inspections may include the analysis of the composition of the runner material and examination of the
hardness of the runner steel.....
Only geometrical changes to standard FIBT runners through the removal of the original material are
allowed. No materials may be added in any way....
...........
At the Jury’s discretion, runners can be subjected at any moment to inspection with special equipment.
In case of inconclusive findings, runners may be seized and sent to a specialized laboratory for further
testing.
..............
The runners may be polished between the race heats. Only the athletes belonging to the team from
the sled concerned may perform the work.
.......
The runners can only be polished using abrasives provided by the FIBT
The runners must remain mounted on the sled. The use of any other materials and / or products is
prohibited. Violation of this rule is penalized with immediate disqualification from the race.
RE: Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
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Plymouth Tube
RE: Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
Dik
RE: Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
It has been a couple years since I looked into this but I seem to recall that the shape of the face of the runner is important. You want to slide on water, not ice. You also need good edges for control.
Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.
www.carbideprocessors.com
Good engineering starts with a Grainger Catalog.
RE: Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
Maybe he will show up.
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Plymouth Tube
RE: Best lubricant for bobsled runners.
Otherwise known as hydrodynamic lubrication.
Books about Tribology might give you some ideas.
The best one that I know of is called 'Engineering Tribology' by G W. Stachowiak & A W. Batchelor.
Ron Volmershausen
Brunkerville Engineering
Newcastle Australia
http://www.aussieweb.com.au/email.aspx?id=1194181