Five reasons why you should use iglidur plain bearings in motor vehicles

Constant price pressure is forcing OEMs and suppliers to continuously optimise costs. The use of inexpensive tribopolymers is a common alternative to expensive metal bearings.

There is hardly a vehicle today that does not contain plain bearings made of plastic as a replacement for metal slides and rolling bearings. The range of applications extends from seat systems to thermally demanding applications in the engine compartment, for example in gearshift forks for gearboxes or in coolant pumps, for example in gearshift forks, coolant pumps or in the drivetrain.

Why are plastic bearings cheaper than e.g. metallic rolled plain bearings?

• Lower energy requirement in the manufacturing process
• 1m³ of steel can be produced from 11,000 litres of crude oil; only 1,000 litres of crude oil are required for 1m³ of plastic
• Short cycle times in the manufacturing process
• High output quantity per cycle thanks to multiple cavities in the injection moulding process
• Precise production means that no downstream production steps are usually necessary

Legal requirements demand a continuous reduction in vehicle emissions. This is achieved by reducing the weight of the vehicles, among other things. This results in a further advantage: less weight leads to lower fuel consumption.

A modern iglidur plastic bearing is up to 80% lighter than a conventional metallic plain bearing with the same dimensions. The number of bearing points has risen steadily with the increasing complexity of vehicles. Weight must therefore also be taken into account when selecting the right bearing material.

This is where iglidur polymer plain bearings come into their own. They weigh less than metal bearings of the same dimensions and therefore help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, significantly less crude oil and therefore less energy is required for their production, and they are also completely lubrication-free.

The advantages of iglidur plain bearings are also decisive for alternative drive concepts. Here, lightweight and particularly quiet components are required that do not generate any disturbing noises during operation and thus increase driving comfort.

One of the technical challenges facing vehicle and component engineers is to identify noisy components and replace them with a quieter solution if necessary. The expectations of OEMs in this area are constantly increasing. This is because alternative drives such as hybrid or electric engines reduce the volume of the drive, making the interior of the vehicle quieter and making BSR noises - otherwise masked by the loud combustion engine - much more perceptible.

How does iglidur plain bearing reduce noise?

With our tribologically optimised high-performance polymers, you achieve a particularly low coefficient of friction and therefore a quiet-running application. Whether in the seat, hinge or actuator, the range of applications of our iglidur plain bearings in vehicle interiors is huge.

Plastic is characterised by the fact that, unlike metal, it has a damping effect. In applications with high vibration loads, plastic bearings help to reduce the noise level. Our iglidur product range includes materials that have especially good damping properties.

Whether in convertible tops, steps, spoiler kinematics or vehicle seats: hinges are often equipped with metallic rolled bearings with a PTFE coating. However, since there are usually rough housings and collared grooves at these points, these bearings have to be laboriously recalibrated in order to achieve a low-clearance system. iglidur plain bearings calibrate themselves due to the effect of heat in the e-coating process and ensure that they fit in place exactly.

Thanks to our modern injection moulding process, the desired iglidur plain bearing can be manufactured in almost any geometry. For example, as a flexible clip bearing, flanged or double collar bushing, especially for quick assembly in sheet metal. Customised plastic solutions in the desired shape, quantity and material are also possible.

In addition, we can provide you with your desired special geometry as a sample for your tests within 48 hours.