Rod End Bearing and several methods to protect from corrosion .

What is rod end bearing?

Rod end bearings are a common type of mechanical joint used at the ends of control rods. For example, the steering columns of most cars, trucks and other vehicles have tie rods with rod end bearings. Of course, the braces are designed to connect the car's steering rack to the steering knuckle. As a result, the tie rods must be able to rotate according to the direction in which the wheels rotate. The rod end bearings allow the tie rods to perform this rotation accurately and in a controlled manner.

Rod end bearings are made using the following materials:-

•          Steel
•          Stainless steel
•          High-carbon steel
•         Aluminum

Male vs. Female Rod End Bearing: What’s the Difference?

The rod end bearings can be classified as male or female, depending on the thread design. Male rod end bearings are designed with external threads In contrast; female threaded rod bearings are designed with internal threads. Female threaded rod bearings use internal threads to handle unique applications that were not possible with male rod end bearings.

1. Surface Pretreatment of Rod End.

Surface cleaning: proper cleaning methods should be based on the surface characteristics of the rod ends and the conditions at the time. Commonly used methods are solvent cleaning, chemical treatment cleaning and mechanical cleaning. What is a cleaning solvent?

Solvents are compounds that can be used to dissolve, soften, melt or extract other compounds. Solvents fall into two categories: organic and inorganic. Organic solvents contain carbon and are generally used to remove stains, clean dry cloths, melt paint and remove adhesive. Inorganic solvents do not contain carbon and are rarely used outside specialized research facilities, except water.

Types of cleaning solvent:-

Solvents that contain oxygen, as the name implies, contain molecular structures of oxygen. Derived from petroleum products, they are generally of low toxicity and have a high solvent capacity.

Hydrocarbon solvents they are petroleum solvents whose chemical structure contains hydrogen and carbon atoms. Hydrocarbon solvents can have complex chemical structures.

Halogenated Solvents this solvent contains halogen atoms in its molecular structure. They are generally stable, non-flammable and have a high solvent capacity, which makes them widely used in precision cleaning and many other applications.

2. Surface Drying:-

After cleaning the rod end, it can be dried with filtered compressed air or a dryer or a clean gauze at 120 - 170 ° C.

Immersion method: dip the end of the rod in antioxidant fat, the surface joins the layer of antioxidant fat. The thickness of the film can be controlled by adjusting the temperature or viscosity of the antioxidant grease.

Brushing mode: When brushing, pay attention to avoid accumulation and to prevent leaks.

Spray Method:- Generally, filtered compressed air is applied at a pressure of approximately 0.7Mpa to clean the end of the spray bar. The spray method is suitable for solvent-diluted antioxidant oil or thin-film antioxidant oil, but complete fire prevention and labor protection measures are necessary.

What are the main factors affecting metal corrosion?

Metal corrosion is caused by several internal and external factors.

 1) Chemical composition and structure of the metallic material itself;

 2) Temperature and humidity;

 3) All types of materials come into contact with the metal surface.