Polymer spur gears behaviors under different loading conditions: A review

Abstract

The significance of polymer gears to transmit power and motion is increasing continuously due to their inherent characteristics. Polymer gears have established themselves as attractive alternatives to traditional metal gears in plethora applications. They are light in weight, have lower inertia, and run noiseless than their metal counterparts. This article presents a comprehensive review of the research on polymer spur gears operating under low (0–8 Nm) and moderate (>8 and ≤17 Nm) loading conditions. Different polymers and polymer composites used till date for the fabrication of such gears are included along with different operating conditions. Various design features of polymer gears and tooth modification techniques for the improvement of the performance and durability of these gears have also been included in this review. The aspects of the modeling and simulation studies of the polymer gears are also emphasized in this paper for completeness of the review. The concept of hybrid gears is discussed along with their tribological properties. Various methods of manufacturing of polymer gears and their failure modes are discussed so as to make the article useful for researchers.