Please choose your delivery location

The selection of the country/region page can influence various factors such as price, shipping options and product availability.
Inquiry / Contact
igus® Canada

180 Bass Pro Mills Drive

Concord

Ontario L4K 0G9

+1 (800) 965-2496
+1 905 760-8688
CA(EN)

iglide® plastic bushings - coefficients of friction


The coefficient of friction iglide® Figure 1.11: Coefficients of friction of iglide® plastic bushing materials under various loads
iglide bushing coefficient of friction Figure 1.12: Coefficients of friction of different iglide® plastic bushing materials with each respective ideal shaft surface finish and low load: p = 108.75 psi

Coefficients of friction

iglide® plastic bushings are self-lubricating due to being injection molded with solid lubricants. These solid lubricants lower each plastic bushing's coefficient of friction and increase its wear resistance. Coefficient of friction µ measurement:

FR = μ x F

Depending on whether an application is starting from a standstill or the movement is in progress and needs to be maintained depends on whether the static or dynamic coefficient of friction is selected.

Coefficients of friction and surfaces

The relationship between coefficients of friction and the shaft surface finish is an interesting one. The amount of friction depends on different factors.

If the shaft is too rough, abrasion levels play a significant role. Small areas of unevenness that can interlock with each other must be worn off the surface.

If the surfaces are too smooth, however, higher adhesion results, i.e. the surfaces adhere to each other. Higher forces are necessary to overcome the adhesion, which results in an increased coefficient of friction. Stick-slip can be the result of a large difference between static and dynamic friction and of a higher adhesive tendency of mating surfaces. Stick-slip also occurs due to intermittent running behavior and can result in loud squeaking. Stick-slip thus represents a way in which plain bearings can malfunction. Time and again, it has been observed that such noises can be stopped or eliminated with rough shafts. Thus, for applications with the potential for stick-slip - slow movements, large resonance of the housings - attention must be paid to optimizing the roughness of the shafts.

iglide friction Picture 1.12: Friction test at the igus® laboratory
Erosion damage of smooth bearing shaft Picture 1.13: Erosion damage due to excessively smooth shafts

Next chapter



The terms "igus", "Apiro", "chainflex", "CFRIP", "conprotect", "CTD", "drylin", "dry-tech", "dryspin", "easy chain", "e-chain", "e-chain systems", "e-ketten", "e-kettensysteme", "e-skin", "e-spool", "flizz", "ibow", "igear", "iglidur", "igubal", "kineKIT", "manus", "motion plastics", "pikchain", "plastics for longer life", "readychain", "readycable", "ReBeL", "speedigus", "triflex", "robolink", "xirodur", and "xiros" are legally protected trademarks of the igus® GmbH/ Cologne in the Federal Republic of Germany and where applicable in some foreign countries.

igus® GmbH points out that it does not sell any products of the companies Allen Bradley, B&R, Baumüller, Beckhoff, Lahr, Control Techniques, Danaher Motion, ELAU, FAGOR, FANUC, Festo, Heidenhain, Jetter, Lenze, LinMot, LTi DRiVES, Mitsibushi, NUM,Parker, Bosch Rexroth, SEW, Siemens, Stöber and all other drive manufacturers mention in this website. The products offered by igus® are those of igus® GmbH