The purpose of the study is to establish the regularities of a stable hydrodynamic regime by applying a fluoroplastic–containing composite polymer material to the support profile. Research methods: new models have been proposed describing the movement of a lubricant with truly viscous rheological properties in the laminar motion mode in the approximation for a "thin layer", in the working gap of a radial bearing with a support profile having a polymer coating with a groove, the continuity equation. A comparative analysis of the obtained results is carried out, confirming the approximation of the obtained model to practice. As a result of the study, a significant expansion of the possibilities for assessing the operational characteristics of the bearing has been achieved: the magnitude of hydrodynamic pressure, load capacity and coefficient of friction.

Keywords: radial bearing, increased wear resistance, antifriction polymer composite coating, groove, hydrodynamic mode, verification