igus, a German company specializing in bearings and an expert in engineering plastics research, has developed a new sliding bearing material based on 54% renewable raw materials. The base material for the new "iglidur N54" sliding bearing is primarily derived from vegetable oils, rather than non-renewable crude oil. This bioplastic product, optimized for mechanical properties and friction, is suitable for widespread use in low-load applications. Product Manager René Achnitz stated, "The new lubrication-free material 'iglidur N54' has already been incorporated into the production of conventional products, just like many high-performance materials. Its entry into low-load applications is a first step towards 'green bearings.'" igus believes that in addition to applications in general mechanical engineering, the consumer market is also a potential market for this product, such as furniture or other everyday products.
Ecological benefits of engineering plastic bearings
The characteristics of the new biomaterial bearings align perfectly with the company's sustainable environmental values and will gradually replace the currently widely used lubricated metal sliding bearings and ball bearings. On one hand, "iglidur" bearings help protect energy and the environment from pollution by synthetic lubricants. igus engineering plastic bearings require no oil or grease, are lubrication-free and maintenance-free, and do not release pollution into the environment. Furthermore, engineering plastic bearings are lighter than metal bearings, reducing energy consumption due to their lighter weight. Moreover, engineering plastic bearings offer significantly better energy balance than metal bearings. For example, producing 1 liter of aluminum requires 15 liters of crude oil, producing 1 liter of steel requires 11 liters of crude oil, while producing 1 liter of plastic requires only 1.8 liters of crude oil. igus revealed that thanks to significant advancements in the technology for synthesizing engineering plastics from vegetable oils, this figure is expected to decrease further. According to data from the European Bioplastics Association, bioplastics production capacity is projected to increase from approximately 700,000 tons in 2010 to approximately 1.7 million tons by 2015.
Image 1711-1 caption: Lubrication-free, maintenance-free, optimized mechanical and frictional properties: igus Sliding Bearings Research Center in Germany introduces a new biomaterial bearing, “iglidur N54,” made from 54% vegetable oil.
Image 1711-2 caption: Weight advantage and corresponding energy consumption: The average density of "iglidur" engineering plastic is 1.4 g/cm³. Aluminum has more than twice that density, and steel has more than 5.5 times that density.
Image courtesy of igus Cable Chain Bearing Warehousing and Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
“igus”, “Chainflex”, “Easy Chain”, “E-Chain”, “Energy Chain”, “Energy Chain System”, “ReadyChain”, “Triflex”, “iglidur”, “igubal”, “DryLin” and “Polysorb” are trademarks protected under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, and are also protected under the local laws of some other countries.
igus Cable Bearing Warehousing and Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Factory Building No. 46, No. 11 Debao Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Shanghai
Tel: 021-5130 7642
Fax: 021-5130 3233
Free service hotline: 400 720 3100
Email: [email protected]
http://www.igus.com.cn
