Plastic bushings can help consumers cut their maintenance expenses by up to 40% and have been shown to provide a longer service life than oil-impregnated sintered bronze bearings. Thousands of applications from numerous industries, including agricultural machinery, lawnmowers, medical equipment, food processing machinery, fitness equipment, pumps, and valves, have already switched from bronze to plastic bushings.
Plastic bushing VS Bronze Bushings
Oil-impregnated bronze bearings use capillary action to form a lubricating oil layer. High speed and rotational motion are both required to draw the oil out and maintain a thick layer of lubricant. Shaft oscillation, slow speed, and sporadic use can all impede this process.
If the motion is stopped, the oil on the bearing’s surface dries up. This may cause squeaking and an increase in the coefficient of friction. High temperatures may cause the oil to degrade. Low chemical resistance, filth vulnerability, edge pressure, and collisions are also disadvantages.
Plastic bushings from sleeve bearings, on the other hand, are not subject to any of these issues because they are injection molded with a combination of base polymers, fibrous reinforcements, and solid lubricants. Fibrous reinforcements help to keep the bearing strong and resistant to high forces and edge loads. As the shaft moves, tiny amounts of solid lubricant are released into the micro-finish, which helps to reduce the coefficient of friction.
Once the transfer is complete, the solid lubricants cannot be pressed out. Nylon materials can also withstand temperatures of up to 572°F in the short term and 482°F in the long term.
Other benefits include low wear rates, noiseless operation, large load capacities, and resistance to chemicals, dirt, dust, UV light, and corrosion. For practically any application, we currently provide more than 20 different plastic bushing materials.
For a very long time, metal bushings were the only option for industrial applications. Thanks to advances in plastic manufacturing technology, modern composite plastics can be produced as adequate substitutes for metal building materials for bushings.
Inquire about all of the available options and measurements.
Several of the most important characteristics of a combine
- Plastic bushings offer
- low wear rates.
- Lightweight material
- The coefficient of friction is low (which it maintains under heavy load)
- Load conformability
- Excellent performance ratings (comparable to other sleeve-bearing materials)
- OD compatibility with standard sintered bronze dimensions (which facilitates upgrades)
Composite plastic bushings are made up of thermoplastic alloys and solid lubricants, as well as a fiber matrix for reinforcement. They are constructed from a variety of low-cost plastics (such as nylon, UHMW, polyethylene, and Teflon) as well as more expensive, high-performance plastics (such as Vespel, PEEK, and Torlon) for applications requiring higher temperatures or greater loads. Many of the composite plastics used to make bushings are less expensive than comparable metals. They can be up to 25% less expensive in some cases. Despite their lower overall cost and lighter material weight, composite plastic bushings frequently outperform metal bushings in a variety of ways, including:
- Running for longer periods of time in harsh environments and operating conditions
- Operating without lubrication (as is required by metal bushings)
- Providing superior corrosion resistance (without lubrication)
- Creating less friction (eliminating the need for lubrication)
- demonstrating increased durability and longevity (minimizing the need for repair and replacement)
Advantages of Plastic Bushings
As previously stated, composite plastic bushings frequently outperform metal bushings. Other benefits of using composite plastic bushings instead of metal bushings include:
Composites that can be tailored to meet specific engineering requirements. Plastic bushings are chemically resistant, can withstand temperatures of up to +482°F, and require no lubrication or maintenance. They are inexpensive, have a long service life, can handle heavy loads, can be used in wet environments, are FDA approved, and have numerous other advantages.
There is little to no upkeep required. Plastic bushings are self-lubricating, eliminating the need for manual lubrication application and re-application. The lack of lubrication also allows for greater resistance to debris and other contaminants, lowering the likelihood of plastic bushings seizing up.
Reduced equipment costs. Because of their lower coefficient of friction and greater wear resistance, plastic bushings are extremely durable. Switching from metal to plastic can save industry professionals up to 25% in costs because they last longer and cost less.
There is no need for lubrication. Plastic bushings self-lubricate and do not attract dirt and dust like messy grease or oil.
more consistency in the friction coefficient. Because of how plastic bushings are made, there is less heat and wear because of their low coefficient of friction (COF). Plastic does not scratch, in contrast to metal, hence a constant COF may be maintained over the course of a bushing’s service life.
improved resistance to corrosion Contrary to metal bushings, the performance of plastic bushings is unaffected by water, salt, and other substances. Similar to how metal bushings cannot be lubricated with water, plastic bushings may.
