German plastic plain bearings manufacturer Igus has announced development of its improved version of Iglidur G – the Iglidur G1.

The company claims the new improved all-round bearing material Iglidur G1 will carry all distinctive features of Iglidur G and additionally will be able to withstand higher temperatures and absorb low moisture adding to improved friction and wear behaviour, without impacting cost.

Iglidur G introduced in 1983, supplied worldwide from stock in 650 metric catalogue dimensions with diameters ranging from 1.5 to 195 millimetres. As per the company it combines a favourable price with many technical properties: a long service life across the entire load spectrum on a wide variety of rotating or pivoting shafts, even in very different ambient conditions, for example when applications are exposed to dirt, dust or impacts.

The new material of the new G1 has considerably improved properties at almost the same price. The new material promises to reduce wear rates at low loads (up to to 5 MPa) down to levels up to a quarter of what they were before. The service life under heavy loads has almost been doubled, depending on the application parameters. At the same time, the all-rounder can now be used continuously at temperatures up to 180degC (Iglidur G: 130degC). In addition, the temperature above which an additional means of axially securing the bearing apart from the press fit is recommended has been increased by half to 120deg C. In conjunction with the more than 50 per cent reduction of moisture absorption, this means that the material is suitable for an even wider range of ambient conditions.

“The new material is an improved alternative in moving applications where metal solutions have been used up to now. With this new material, customers can reduce costs by around 40 per cent, increase the service life of bearings and, at the same time, profit from the special material properties of Iglidur such as the absence of a need for lubrication, lower weight and corrosion resistance,” says René Achnitz, head, business unit Iglidur bearings at Igus.

Initially, Iglidur G1 will be made available in 113 standard dimensions in the form of cylindrical bearings and flange bearings.