The iglidur plain bearings are already in use today, for example, in the lifting arms of front loaders. The motion plastics specialist igus has the heavy-duty material iglidur TX1 in the product range for even tougher applications, for example, in construction machinery or in the agricultural sector, where very high forces act on bearing points. This is characterised by an extremely high compressive strength and a long service life and also features a high media resistance and temperature resistance up to 170 C for short periods.

To save weight, lightweight components are required, and at the same time are very robust. These requirements are fulfilled by the bearing material iglidur TX1 – especially in applications where very heavy loads are moved. “With a static compressive strength of up to 200 MPa and a dynamic strength of 140 MPa, we can implement many applications in the heaviest weight class,” explains René Achnitz, head of the iglidur plain bearings at igus. Therefore, iglidur TX1 – like all iglidur plain bearings – is self-lubricating and dry running, but which can also be used with lubrication in individual cases, for example, in typical applications in the agricultural and construction machinery sector, when lubricating grease is used as a corrosion protection for the shaft. Particularly heavy loaded pivoting movements, in which maximum radial loads prevail, can be implemented with plain bearings made of this material.

iglidur TX1 combines very good coefficients of wear and friction with a high dimensional stability. “Due to the long wound fibre, plain bearings made of iglidur TX1 absorb even extreme shocks and impacts and still remain very stable in shape,” said René Achnitz. Therefore, heavy-duty applications can be fitted with iglidur bearings as an alternative to metallic solutions, which always require a continuous lubrication or in which a lack of lubrication can cause undue costs for maintenance and repair as well as production delays.