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Plastic & Composite Bearings, Bushings & Thrust Washers

About Bearings

Bearings play an important role in a range of mechanical applications and are a critical component in almost everything mechanical around us.  From wheel bearings in our vehicles to microscopic bearings in electronics like printers and countless automation equipment and appliance applications, bearings are hard at work constraining motion and reducing friction and wear between two mating parts.   

Bearings are available in many types that include, ball bearings, roller bearings, needle bearings, rod end bearings, sleeve bearings / bushings, thrust washers / bearings, linear bearings, and others.  

A wide variety of metals, plastics and composites are used in bearing applications depending on the application.  As with any application it is important to consider all the application parameters involved to select the correct material for each bearing application.  

Many times, plastics and composites offer significant advantages over metals and can improve bearing performance with increased bearing life that results in cost savings by reducing downtime.

Need help deciding? Use our plastics selection tool  

Why Plastics & Composites for Bearings, Bushings & Thrust Washers?

Plastics and Composites offer a range of advantages over traditional materials like bronze and other metallic bearing materials that result in lower maintenance costs and longer wear life, resulting in reduced downtime and reduced costs with increased uptime.

Some of the major advantages include:

Lower Coefficient of Friction – Plastics and composites typically offer a lower coefficient of friction than bronze and other traditional materials.  A lower coefficient of friction results in a more efficient bearing with less drag and reduced bearing and counter surface wear.

Self-Lubricating – Depending on the plastic or composite material most have self-lubricating properties or enhanced self-lubricating properties with additives like PTFE, Graphite & UHMW.  In some cases, the combination of self-lubricating properties and lower friction eliminate the need for grease or other lubricants.  This reduces the maintenance costs associated with lubrication and eliminates the grim build up that occurs with lubricants.

Corrosion & Chemical Resistant – With a wide range of plastics and composites to choose from there are options that can resist the most aggressive concentrated chemical exposures.  Eliminating bearing failure due to chemical attack or corrosion is another advantage that extends bearing life and reduces downtime.

Weight Reduction – Plastics and composites can offer a weight savings of 5 to 7X times lower weight than Bronze.  In some applications that use large bearings or many bearings the lower weight of the plastic or composite bearing can add up to significant weight savings, where a lower weight equates to reduced energy consumption and lower operating costs.  The Automotive, Construction, Heavy Equipment, Transportation, Rail and Aerospace industries benefit greatly from reduced weight. 

Guidelines for Designing Plastic Bearings

When selecting plastics for bearings many factors must be considered, such as the operating pressure (psi) and velocity (fpm).  Along with the operational temperature range, chemical exposure, mating counter surface or shaft material, wet or dry environment and other factors. 

Download our guidelines below for more information.

Download our Bearing, Roller / Wheel, Sheave & Gear Design Guidelines Now

Our Guidelines contain step by step instructions as follows, along with additional charts related to bearing and wear properties comparison, ambient temperature correction graph, cycle time correction, shaft allowance vs shaft diameter, wall factor for plastic bearing materials at various ambient temperatures, recommended press fit interference versus housing inside diameter and more.

  1. DETERMINE BEARINGS’ OPERATING PV -Pressure (psi) x Velocity (FPM)
  2. SELECT A MATERIAL & APPLY THE PV CORRECTION FACTORS
  3. BEARING CLEARANCE (TOTAL RUNNING CLEARANCE)
  4. ADDITIONAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS – BEARING WALL THICKNESS / LENGTH / DIAMETER RATIO
  5. DIMENSIONS OF THE BEARING
  6. TOLERANCES OF THE BEARING

Common Plastic & Composite Materials for Bearing, Bushing & Thrust Washer Applications

CIP plastic composite bushings bearings thrust washers turcite torlon

  • Chemical Name
  • Trade Names / Brands
  • Continuous Use Temperature*
  • Key Properties
 
  • UHMW-PE Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
  • 180 F / 82 C 
  • UHMW- PE offers light weight (1/8 the weight of mild steel), high in tensile strength, and as simple to machine as wood, UHMW PE is the ideal material for bearing and wear parts a wide range of applications in almost every industry. UHMW PE is self-lubricating, high impact strength, long-wearing, abrasion and corrosion resistant. It is FDA and USDA compliant and used extensively in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Unfilled and filled grades, which offer enhanced wear resistance, UV resistance, anti-static, static dissapative, conductive and other enhanced properties.
  • POM Polyoxymethylene Acetal Homopolymer & Copolymer
  • 180 F / 82 C 
  • Acetal is the common name for a family of thermoplastics with the chemical name "PolyOxy-Methylene".  Acetal is available in a general-purpose copolymer grade, a homopolymer version (Delrin®), and several filled Delrin® grades. Acetal provides high strength and stiffness, enhanced dimensional stability, and is easy to machine. As a semi-crystalline material, acetal is characterized by a low coefficient of friction and good wear properties.  Delrin®AF and Turcite grades are available with PTFE to offer a lower coefficient of friction and enhanced wear properties.
  • PA Polyamide Type 6, 6/6 & Other Types
  • 210 F / 98 C
  • Nylon is one of the most widely used plastics in the world, especially as a bearing and wear material. Nylons are frequently used as replacements for bronze, brass, aluminum, steel and other metals, as well as other plastics, wood, and rubber.  The most common types include Type 6/6 extruded and Type 6 cast, which are available in sheet, rod, tube, film, custom profile and parts depending on the grade.  Many formulations are available with different additives to enhance wear properties, stiffness, lower friction and improve other properties.  Nylons offer extremely good wear resistance, coupled with high tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. They also have high impact resistance, a high heat distortion temperature, and resist wear, abrasion, and vibration. In addition, nylons can withstand sustained contact with a wide variety of chemicals, alkalies, dilute acids or oxidizing agents.

    Another important factor, both economically and mechanically, is the relative light weight of nylon -- approximately 1/8 the weight of bronze, 1/7 the weight of cast iron, and 1/2 the weight of aluminum -- which reduces both the inertial and static loads and eases the handling of large components during maintenance or replacement procedures.
  • PET-P Polyethylene Terephthalate Polyester
  • 210 F / 98 C
  • PET-P properties make it especially suitable for the manufacture of precision mechanical parts which are capable of sustaining high loads and enduring wear conditions. Ertalyte® TX is an internally lubricated thermoplastic polyester providing enhanced wear and inertness over general purpose nylon(PA) and acetal (POM) products. Containing uniformly dispersed solid lubricant, Ertalyte® TX provides a lower wear rate and coefficient of friction than unmodified polyesters like PET or PBT and even internally lubricated materials like Delrin® AF blend. Ertalyte® is FDA compliant in natural and black. Natural Ertalyte® is also USDA, 3A-Dairy and Canada AG compliant. 
  • PBT-P Polybutylene Terephthalate Polyester
  • 221 F / 105 C
  • PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) Polyester offers low moisture absorption and can withstand high impact without deterioration. It is FDA complaint and is ideal for machined parts in food processing equipment. HYDEX® 4101 has excellent resistance to typical cleaning chemicals such as chlorine and caustic solutions and has a very low moisture absorption rate, as much as 15 times less than nylon.  HYDEX® 4101L PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) Polyester is an internally-lubricated grade for use in higher wear resistance, PV range and lower coefficient of friction applications. It maintains the properties of unfilled HYDEX® 4101. It is FDA complaint and is ideal for machined parts in food processing equipment. HYDEX™ 4101 has excellent resistance to typical cleaning chemicals such as chlorine and caustic solutions and has a very low moisture absorption rate, as much as 15 times less than nylon.
  • Phenol Formaldehyde Phenolic Resin Laminate
  • 257 F / 125 C
  • Phenolics offer excellent strength and shock resistance coupled with resistance to water, acid, and alkali solutions. Phenolic plastic bearings work well in heavily loaded systems provided sufficient clearance and cooling is provided.  Phenolics are typically lubricated when used in bearing systems and easily accept most lubricant fluids.  Phenolics are uses in in bearing applications ranging from miniature clock bearings to bearing components in large ships and water turbine. The most common Phenolic laminates include X,XX,XXX (Paper Base), C & CE (Canvas Base) and L & LE (Linen) Base grades.
  • Polyester, Marine Grade & Vinyl Ester Resin Textile Laminate
  • 200 F / 93 F to 400 F / 204 C
  • CIP Composite™ are laminated polymer materials made by impregnating textile with thermoset resins. The high strength and other physical properties of CIP materials make them ideal bearing materials to replace bronze in high load – low speed applications.  CIP Composites offer design engineers an attractive, cost effective alternative to the traditional materials used for bushings, bearings, wear pads, and thrust washers, such as bronze or nylon. CIP Composites are only 1/6 the weight of steel, easily machined, have good dimensional stability and do not contain harmful or toxic materials.  CIP grades are available in different resin and reinforcement options that can handle temperatures from -40 F to 400 F depending on the CIP Grade.
  • PPS PolyPhenylene Sulfide
  • 425 F / 218 C 
  • PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) products offer the broadest resistance to chemicals of any advanced engineering plastic. They have no known solvents below 392°F (200°C) and offer inertness to steam, strong bases, fuels, and acids.  Bearing grade PPS materials like Techtron® HPV, Techtron® PSBG PPS, TECATRON® PVX PPS & some grades of  TECATRON® XP materials make excellent bearings in extreme bearing applications that are exposed to caustic chemicals or require a higher operating temperature than lower temperature thermoplastics.
  • PEEK Polyetheretherketone
  • 480 F / 249 C
 
  • PEEK is an abbreviation for PolyEtherEtherKetone, a high performance engineering thermoplastic. PEEK grades offer chemical and water resistance like PPS (PolyPhenylene Sulfide) but can operate at higher temperatures. PEEK can be used continuously to 480°F (250°C) and in hot water or steam without permanent loss in physical properties. For hostile environments, PEEK is a high strength alternative to fluoropolymers. PEEK carries a V-0 flammability rating and exhibits very low smoke and toxic gas emission when exposed to flame. And unfilled PEEK is approved by the FDA for food contact applications (since 1998). PTFE filled PEEK is an excellent choice for bearing applications that require FDA compliance.  Carbon filled and bearing grade PEEK grades are available that excel in demanding bearing applications in a wide range of industries from Aerospace to Oil & Gas and many others.
  • PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene
  • 500 F / 260 C
  • PolyTetraFluoroEthylene is a fluorocarbon-based polymer and is commonly abbreviated PTFE.   PTFE has outstanding chemical resistance, a wide operating temperature range from cryogenic to 500F, resistance to weathering, high impact strength, low friction, electrical and thermal insulation, and self-lubricating properties. Fluorosint® and Rulon® are enhanced PTFE bearing materials that are available in various different grades for improved wear properties, enhanced dimensional stability and higher mechanical properties and are often chosen over virgin PTFE or other filled PTFE grades for enhanced bearing performance.
  • PAI Polyamide-imide
  • 500 F / 260 C
  • Torlon is the highest performing melt processable plastic. It has superior resistance to elevated temperatures. It is capable of performing under severe stress conditions at continuous temperatures to 500°F (260°C). Torlon is available in sheet, rod, tube & machined parts in a a wide range of unfilled and filled grades for enhanced properties for specific applications.  Torlon ® 4301 extruded PAI is primarily used for wear and friction parts. It offers a very low expansion rate, low coefficient of friction and exhibits little or no slip-stick in use. Torlon ® 4301's flexural modulus of 1,000,000 psi is higher than most other advanced engineering plastics. This grade excels in severe service wear applications such as non- lubricated bearings, seals, bearing cages and reciprocating compressor parts.  Compression Molded Torlon® 4501 Bearing Grade PAI is well suited for general purpose wear and friction parts. It has a higher compressive strength and can therefore carry more load than Torlon® 4540 PAI. It is similar in composition to Torlon® 4301 PAI and selected when larger shapes are required.
  • PI Polyimide
  • 572 F / 300 C
  • Polyimide materials offer high strength, toughness, and high thermal resistance, with some grades that can handle over 600 F continuous.  Polyimides are often chosen for high PV applications and offer low wear resistance.  In addition, they offer outstanding dimensional stability over a wide temperature range with heat deflection temperature capability of 680F / 360C.  
  • PBI Polybenzimidazole
  • 650 F / 343 C
  • Celazole PBI is the world's highest performing engineering plastic currently available. It offers the highest heat resistance (it does not melt) and mechanical property retention up to 800F 427 C). It has better wear resistance and load carrying capabilities at extreme temperatures than any other reinforced or unreinforced engineering plastic.  Celazole® PBI polymers are uniquely suited for metal replacement and exhibit excellent thermal stability. With excellent resistance to high temperatures and chemicals, and best in class wear resistance, parts made with Celazole® PBI work harder and last longer.

*Some grades are available with a heat stabilizer or different resin formulations that offer higher continuous use temperatures than listed above.

Why Boedeker for Plastic or Composite for Bearings, Bushings & Thrust Washers?

We stock all commercially available grades of bearing grade plastic and composite sheet, rod, tube and film and offer cut to sizesame day shipping on all inventoried plastic and composite materials. Our entire inventory of plastics and composites are coded for full traceability, we offer manufacturer certs. and C of C’s upon request at the time of order for all orders.


plastic bearings peek acetal teflot

We specialize in plastics-only machining, including bearing grade plastic and composite machining and produce CNC machined bearings, bushing and thrust washers for prototype to production quantities.  In addition, we offer injection molding for higher part volume requirements. 

For clients that have ongoing part requirements, we offer just-in-time (JIT) delivery with our customer inventory services.  

We also specialize in technical services for bearing grade plastics and composite materials and parts that include material selection by application, improved part design assistance, onsite consultation and more. We stand ready to put our 1,800 years of combined experience and services to work for you.

As an alternative to onsite consultation we offer our TelePlastics™ remote support service.  This is a safe and secure remote solution, for the diagnosis and recommendation of plastic solutions, by our experienced Technical Service staff, utilizing the latest in telecommunication technology.

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