In addition to its plain bearing product offerings, igus is now able to offer lubrication-free polymer ball bearings, which benefit from the company’s tribologically optimised polymers and in-house test laboratory. The iglidur ball bearing was shown at the recent Hanover fair and represents the first step towards a range of technically optimised polymer ball bearings with a predictable service life.
The inner and outer races and cage of the new polymer ball bearings are made from a high-performance iglidur material. The corrosion-free balls are made from stainless steel, although glass balls are available for maximum corrosion resistance. Ceramic is another potential option for the future but, for now, the ball bearings have races made from the high-temperature material iglidur A500. The deep-groove ball bearings are available for shaft diameters of 3, 6, 8 and 10mm and are temperature-resistant up to 150°C.
Igus warns that while these dry-running polymer ball bearings do not compare with permanently lubricated metal roller bearings when it comes to service life, speed and permissible loads, in certain applications these factors may be less important than low friction values and minimum driving forces.
The new bearings are available ex-stock and can be used in the presence of potentially corrosive elements, such as chemicals. They do not require any lubrication, which makes them a particularly attractive option for food industry applications.