The revised version of the catalogue replaces three previous catalogues: 238, 706 and ELGOTEX® plain bearings.The 'Technical Principles' section provides guidance on the selection of plain bearing for different applications. A number of important design factors are considered, including load carrying capacity, rating life, friction, increases in temperature, internal and operating clearance, sealing, mounting and dismounting, and ISO tolerances.
The catalogue also contains updated chapters on 'Special Materials' and 'Special Designs'. Special materials includes examples of non-standard materials that can be specified for spherical plain bearings such as glass fibre-reinforced plastic sliding layers. Other examples include E60, a new plain bearing material from Schaeffler for maintenance-free film bearings. This metal/polymer composite comprises a bronze rib mesh that is filled with a dry lubricant made from PTFE with embedded chemically non-reactive additives. The mesh functions as both a carrier and a sliding layer. Another example is E421, a two-layered metal/polymer composite comprising a steel supporting body with a plastic composite layer made from PTFE.
The extremely thin-walled material facilitates very small design envelopes. Potential products include bushes, flanged bushes, thrust washers and strips. The material comprises a steel backing and a sliding layer. As standard, the steel backing is protected against corrosion by a zinc coating. The 'Special Designs' chapter includes examples of custom-engineered plain bearings such as plain bushes with slots, pivoting cradle bearings, ball cups, bush and pin systems, linear plain bearing units, flanged spherical bearings, prop shaft centering bearings, central joint bearings, and spherical plain bearings with bellows.
Throughout the catalogue are examples of X-life plain bearings. These are premium quality bearings that utilise higher performance materials, lower coefficients of friction and reduced running-in wear when compared to conventional, standard plain bearings.
