Polymer is ideal for anti-friction bearing cages

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 14, 2006

When the Cerobear of Herzogenrath, Germany, wanted a high performance material for its bearing cages, it chose Victrex Peek polymer

The polymer was selected because of the material's maximum continuous operating temperature of 250C (482F).

Anti-friction bearings offer increased friction and media resistance, making them ideal for applications requiring the highest rotating speeds and temperatures.

Applications range from aviation and aerospace to auto racing, machine tools, semiconductors, biological and medical technology, and the food and packaging industries.

Hybrid anti-friction bearings are primarily bearing rings made of high grade aviation anti-friction bearing steel and are combined with rolling bodies made of high performance silicon nitride or zircon oxide ceramics.

For special applications where the properties of hybrid bearings are insufficient, high performance ceramics can be incorporated.

Cerobear provides customised solutions for given applications.

In auto racing, many Formula 1, WRC, DTM and Le Mans racing teams rely on the high quality of the bearings for a diverse range of applications.

The bearings are setting new standards in auto racing because of the broad range of application options.

Cerobear anti-friction bearings with Victrex Peek polymer cages are ideal for the food and packaging industries where germ free aseptic filling under clean room conditions is a top priority.

The major benefit of Cerobear bearings in these industries is the option of media lubrication as well as dry running.

Contamination and the formation of germs as a result of leakage, and process alien media such as grease and oil, can thus be avoided.

The dimensional stability and excellent mechanical properties of Victrex Peek polymer, as well its outstanding sliding friction characteristics and food compatibility make it especially suited for food industry applications, especially beverage bottling.

All unfilled Victrex Peek polymer grades, as well as some reinforced grades, meet all US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regulation 21CFR 177.2415 requirements - polyaryletherketones regarding the composition of articles that repeatedly come into contact with food.

Another benefit of Victrex Peek polymer is its resistance to aggressive media and hot steam sterilisation - essential for food processing equipment that must be regularly cleaned and sterilised.

Even storage for 2000h at 200C (392F) and a pressure of 14 bar results in no significant changes in the mechanical properties of the unfilled Victrex Peek polymer.

Victrex Peek polymer is used in medical technology for the same reasons - resistance to hot steam sterilisation and high purity.

The fact that Cerobear full ceramic bearings, in combination with Victrex Peek polymer as a metal substitute, are completely non-magnetic is a major reason for the use of bearing cages made of Victrex Peek polymer.

In the aviation and aerospace industries where bearings must withstand temperatures between -55 and 150C (-67 and 302F), Victrex Peek polymer is increasingly used because of low levels of extractable ions, unfailing reliability, high abrasion resistance and reduced heat development especially at high speeds.

Due to the inherent purity of the polymer, only the lowest quantities of ionic constituents were determined by mass spectroscopy after specimens were stored in deionised water at 55C (131F) for 24h.

Victrex Peek polymer is very stable and requires no flame retardant additive to reach the V-O classification according to UL 94 at 1.45mm specimen thickness for the fire test.