Research Progress in Preparation and Service Performance of Babbitt Alloy Surface Coating

SHI Jianjun; WANG Yueying; CHANG Jiashuo; LU Yifan; WANG Xingxing; CHEN Xiaojiang; SONG Chenfei; WANG Shuai; YUAN Zhipeng; HE Peng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.08.003

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (8) : 34-52. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.08.003

Key Technologies for Precision Forming of High-end Energy and Aerospace Equipment Components

Research Progress in Preparation and Service Performance of Babbitt Alloy Surface Coating

SHI Jianjun^1,2,3, WANG Yueying¹, CHANG Jiashuo¹, LU Yifan¹, WANG Xingxing^1,*, CHEN Xiaojiang³, SONG Chenfei⁴, WANG Shuai¹, YUAN Zhipeng¹, HE Peng^2,*

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Abstract

Babbitt alloy possesses excellent conformability, embeddability, anti-seizure behavior, and anti-friction performance, and has long been served as an indispensable surface-coating material for large sliding bearings. With the continuous development of high-end equipment such as steam turbines, hydraulic turbines and compressors toward high load, high speed, long service life, and frequent start-stop operating conditions, Babbitt alloy coatings cast in conventional ways are increasingly prone to problems such as microstructural coarsening, compositional segregation, insufficient interfacial bonding, poor high- temperature stability, and fatigue spalling. Based on recent research progresses in Babbitt alloy surface coatings, this paper provides a systematic review from preparation processes, microstructural evolution and interfacial behavior, service performance and its influencing factors, as well as engineering applications, failure analysis, and remanufacturing. The review focuses on the effects of liquid-solid composite casting, cold metal transfer/metal inert gas arc welding low-heat-input welded coating fabrication, laser cladding/remelting, thermal spraying, and electrodeposition on the distribution of the α-Sn soft matrix, SnSb and Cu₆Sn₅ hard phases, interfacial diffusion coatings, and defect control. The mechanisms by which intercoating design, elemental/particle composite strengthening, and surface functionalization improve load-bearing capacity, anti-friction and wear resistance, and anti-spalling performance are summarized. In addition, typical failure modes under the coupled effects of lubrication, temperature, and fatigue are discussed, together with the development trends of repair and remanufacturing technologies for large bearing bushes. In the future, research on Babbitt alloy surface coating materials should focus on low-heat-input and high-density fabrication, coordinated regulation of microstructure and interface, composite strengthening and surface functionalization design, near-service-condition performance evaluation, and digital remanufacturing.

Key words

Babbitt alloy surface coating / preparation process / microstructural evolution / interfacial behavior / service performance

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SHI Jianjun, WANG Yueying, CHANG Jiashuo, LU Yifan, WANG Xingxing, CHEN Xiaojiang, SONG Chenfei, WANG Shuai, YUAN Zhipeng, HE Peng. Research Progress in Preparation and Service Performance of Babbitt Alloy Surface Coating[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(8): 34-52 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.08.003

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (52475347); High-end Foreign Experts Introduction Project of Henan Province (HNGD2026039); Open Fund of the National United Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Bearing Tribology (202605); Key Research and Development Program of Henan Province (251111222600); Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent Support Program of Henan Province (254200510047); Research Special Program under the Key Scientific Research Project Plan of Institutions of Higher Education in Henan Province (26ZX018); Joint Fund of Henan Provincial Science and Technology R&D Program (235200810030)