Trelleborg launches low friction, lightweight composite bearing

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has launched a latest lightweight thermoplastic composite bearing, the HiMod Advanced Composite Bearing Plus, an enhanced dual-layer bearing with a low-friction modified PEEK layer that reduces friction and increases wear performance for use in bearing, wear ring, and bushing applications.

Manufactured using Trelleborg’s patented Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technology, a thin low friction liner is bonded to the inner diameters and can be added to the outer diameters of the bearing to create a high-quality solution for use in a wide range of industries.

HiMod Advanced Composite Bearing Plus will not seize or gall, unlike metal bearings, to reduce the likelihood of pump damage in chemical processing applications, has a low coefficient of friction, and can withstand extreme temperature ranges.

Reid Hislop, product manager at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, says: “Thermoplastic bearings offer high durability and toughness for demanding applications. The addition of a low-friction layer within our HiMod Advanced Composite Bearing Plus provides up to 50% less sliding friction than with standard bearings, to increase performance and prevent damage to hardware components.

“These unique bearings can operate from an extremely low temperature of -156 °C to +274 °C and are capable of continuous service even when wet, with nearly zero water absorption. Unlike other non-metal bearings, these do not crack or swell in extreme conditions making them a reliable choice for a wide range of applications.”

Trelleborg’s AFP technology is part of a special continuous-fiber thermoplastic composite manufacturing process, which uses pre-impregnated unidirectional composite tapes to produce strong, light-weight composite bearings and other components. The manufacturing process utilises In-Situ Consolidated (ISC) technology that requires no autoclave or other post processes to eliminate fibre wrinkling and offer an unlimited choice of fibre angles. Components are rapidly formed by a melt-bond process, which removes the need for adhesives, fasteners, or welding. ISC technology enables the bonding of different materials which can result in the creation of new, hybrid structures.

Hislop, continues: “Our low-friction PEEK liner doubles as a highly impermeable sealing surface to provide wide chemical compatibility including solvents and environmental contaminants, and unlike traditional thermoset composites, thermoplastic composites can be recycled at the end-of-life.”