Plastics good for friction, wear and bearings

Friction is the resistance to relative motion between two surfaces. The lower the coefficient of friction is, the easier it is for the two surfaces to slide over each other. Friction causes wear and tear, which reduces the lifetime of a material. This can affect product efficiency and decrease performance, resulting in increased part replacement and maintenance costs. For example, the rough surfaces of harder sliding partners (such as steel) are more likely to cause wear in softer sliding partners. Also, where a combination of high sliding speeds and high pressing forces are at work, the sliding partners are exposed to high levels of stress.

Generally, plastics are very good wear materials with a low coefficient of friction, making them ideal for applications where friction is a consideration. In addition, the abrasion resistance of most plastics is also high under dry running conditions.

In applications such as bearings, where one part slides over another, wear is often severe. Thermoplastics work well in these applications where low friction is crucial. These thermoplastics offer a number of other benefits besides wear resistance, such as good corrosion resistance, lower weight and low noise emission. Parts made of these thermoplastics also tend to generate lower friction and heat, which increases part life and ultimately reduces maintenance costs.

Good for friction and wear plastic products

Due to its low coefficient of friction, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is often used for sliding applications. In addition to PTFE, the classic bearing and wear materials made of polyimide, PEEK, PPS, Nylon, Acetal and Polyester are also known for their good sliding friction properties. Ensinger offers a variety of wear resistant plastic materials, many of which have their friction properties enhanced by the inclusion of various additives.

TECASINT 2021 black

TECASINT 2021 black is a polyimide with 15 % graphite and based on the base polymer TECASINT 2011. It is particularly suitable for tribological applications

TECAFLON PTFE natural

PTFE is one of the most commonly used and important fluoropolymer materials, useful in a wide variety of applications. It is a commonly preferred material for sliding applications, and ...

TECAFORM AD AF natural

TECAFORM AD AF natural is a POM homopolymer with special PTFE fibres designed to optimize the material's sliding friction properties.