Polymer coating boosts bearing reliability

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 3, 2007

Coatings replace copper and silver on needle roller bearings to reduce wear and lengthen the life of the bearings and cage.

Taiwan's Needle Roller Bearings Co is using Vicote Coating from Victrex to increase the reliability of its bearings.

NRB Taiwan is widely recognised as a manufacturer of high quality needle roller bearings targeted for use in motorcycle engines, outboard motors and other engines with high rotational speeds.

Traditionally, the outer surfaces of the bearing and bearing cage have been plated with expensive copper and silver layers to reduce wear.

NRB chose Vicote 804 Blk to replace copper and silver because of its excellent wear and abrasion resistance.

Vicote Coatings reduce the wear and lengthen the life of the bearings and cage.

NRB carried out tests, subjecting the current bearing to rotational speeds of 9000rev/min for over 100 hours: the copper and silver layers wore off, causing damage to the cage, which could lead to premature failure of the bearing.

When the same test was conducted on a bearing coated with Victrex's Vicote 804 Blk, neither the bearing nor the cage showed any signs of wear at all.

"We are excited that Vicote Coatings has provided us with a new solution to enhance the design and performance of our needle roller bearings; it not only brings higher performance and longer life cycle to our needle roller bearings but it also reduces overall system costs".

"We have now implemented Vicote Coatings into our manufacturing process", says Louis Hsueh, Plant Manager, NRB Taiwan.

"Applying Vicote Coating is simpler and less damaging to the bearing cage", continues Hsueh.

"Application of the traditional copper and silver plating causes hydrogen embrittlement which can also lead to premature, catastrophic, bearing failure".

"Current solutions are expensive and do not provide adequate wear resistance relative to the demands of the application", says Gary Li, Country Manager of Victrex Taiwan.

"Vicote Coatings are well suited for use in this application based on their excellent wear and durability, and their ability to withstand the extreme conditions of this application".

"This exceptional wear performance was achieved with a Vicote coating 50% thinner than the traditional copper/silver plating".

"With over 30 million needle roller bearings produced annually across the globe - predominantly in motorcycles and outboard motors - this Vicote Coatings technology should offer significant benefits to OEMs in these markets and others".

Vicote Coatings are available in aqueous based liquid dispersions and powder form and exhibit the inherent performance characteristics of Victrex Peek polymer, including, exceptional wear, scratch and abrasion resistance, high temperature performance, ease of processing, very good barrier properties and outstanding chemical resistance.

Vicote 804 Blk is one of the new F-grades of Vicote Coatings which are specially formulated by Victrex to solve the problem of flash rusting that can occur when water-based coatings are applied directly to ferrous metals such as mild steel.