With the rapid development of science and technology, industrialization and automation are flourishing. The global demand and use of energy has entered a stage of sustainable development. Energy conservation and consumption reduction have been deeply rooted in people's hearts and are specifically reflected in the process of industrialization. Engineering plastics have an unparalleled density advantage compared to metals, and at the same time, the excellent performance of some engineering plastics can also meet product design requirements, so it has become the primary choice for most product designs. The plastic bearing industry is also one of them. Quite prominent.
Development status of engineering plastic bearings
In recent years, the rapid development of engineering plastic bearings has set off a trend in all walks of life and is widely used, and the large market environment is gradually becoming stable. Among the foreign markets: the ratio of steel and plastic materials in developed countries in Europe and the United States reaches 4: 6, and Germany reaches 3: 7. Most equipment for engineering plastic bearings are in use. Although China started late, it has developed rapidly. Production raw materials, modified factories, mold making, processing equipment, product applications and other aspects have gradually improved to form a primary industrial chain. The use of equipment has also become more widespread and sharp. Growth, the phenomenon that domestic products simply cannot meet the demand, which promotes the rapid upgrading of the engineering plastic bearing production industry chain to meet the large-scale application needs in the process of domestic industrialization. At present, the domestic representative brand of engineering plastic bearings applied in the domestic market, Germany: igus, was founded in 1964 and developed earlier. The company has a large scale, a wide range of products, and strong technical strength. Domestic representative brand: Nomelle, founded in 2014, specializes in the research and development, design and production of special composite plastic bearings and gears. Has strong technical force, has a strong independent innovation ability, rapid development, customization, product series, a wide range of applications.
Product advantages of engineering plastic bearings
Engineering plastic bearings are made of engineering plastic particles directly by injection molding or extruded or cast to form profiles, and the overall advantages of engineering plastics are uniform:
1. Engineering plastic bearings are processed by open-mold injection molding. The product has a short production cycle, fast production speed, low production cost, and good economy. It is easy to mass-produce and scale production, effectively improve work efficiency and save manufacturing costs .
2. Engineering plastic bearings have low density and lightweight texture. Among high-speed rotating bearings, the starting torque is small, the bearings rotate flexibly, and the energy consumption is reduced, which is more suitable for the modern lightweight structure design trend.
3. It has excellent self-lubricity, which can meet the requirements of working conditions where lubricants cannot be used, such as: food machinery, packaging machinery, medical equipment, etc. It is also suitable for applications that cannot be lubricated or difficult to add lubricants. Maintenance and non-maintenance guarantee the requirements of bearing lubrication and long life, greatly reduce the equipment maintenance cost, avoid the high downtime cost caused by negligently adding grease to the equipment, and avoid environmental pollution.
4. wear resistance, low friction, anti-seizure characteristics, engineering plastic bearings can add wear-resistant elements, while having a very low coefficient of friction, is conducive to reducing the generation of friction heat and maintain good self-lubricating performance.
5. with good acid and alkali resistance and chemical resistance, can be long-term effective operation in medical fluids, chemical fluids, seawater, sewage and other environments, without rust, corrosion, deformation and other phenomena.
6. Low noise and mute effect. Due to its material properties, engineering plastic bearings have certain damping and damping properties, which can greatly reduce operating noise and improve the operating environment during use. Can meet the needs of some scientific research institutions, hospitals, etc. that need quietness.
7. Engineering plastic bearings have high thermal stability and good dimensional stability, suitable for high and low temperature environments, and the temperature difference can reach -250 ~ + 320 ℃, which can meet most of the working conditions.
8. Engineering plastic bearings can choose different materials according to the needs of different performances, which can not only have good toughness, impact resistance, good resistance to fracture, but also high rigidity, high hardness and flexibility.
9. The product design has great flexibility, and can be directly injection molded with a complex structural form, which is convenient for the optimal design of the bearing.
Product application of engineering plastic bearings
Domestic engineering plastic bearings are mainly used in five major engineering plastics such as polycarbonate, polyformaldehyde, polyamide, thermoplastic resin, modified polyphenylene ether and some special modified or special engineering plastics independently developed by the manufacturer. It has been rapidly applied in various industries, mainly in the following industries:
1. Automotive applications: Engineering plastic bearings with the advantages of light weight, self-lubrication, dry running, and low noise are constantly replacing metal and powder bearings in the rapid promotion of automobiles. Automotive transmission systems such as gearboxes and variable speeds High-strength, shock-absorbing, wear-resistant bearings such as boxes, actuators, shift gears, low-friction, low-noise bearings for automotive seat systems, high-load, high-temperature bearings for automotive chassis systems, etc. Engineering plastic bearings for passenger cars The number of applications has exceeded 80, and it is constantly increasing, not only meeting the functional requirements, but also meeting the environmental protection requirements of the automotive industry, such as ROHS, Reach and other standards. At the same time, the production cycle is short, batch production is easy, the price is low, and the economy is good.
2. Engineering machinery applications: Engineering plastic bearings with the advantages of impact resistance, dust resistance, high strength self-lubrication, etc., are very suitable for applications in engineering machinery, such as excavator arms, bearings, hydraulic cylinder oil pump systems, chassis walking mechanism systems, The body pivot system and directional rotation system of the dump truck not only solve the problem of lubrication of metal bearings, but also reduce noise, extend service life, and reduce maintenance costs, especially in harsh mines and field equipment.
3. General industrial machinery: Engineering plastic bearings with excellent wear resistance, high strength, chemical resistance and fatigue resistance are widely used in general industrial machinery, chemical engineering, electrical and electronics, food and beverage, intelligent robotics, medical, packaging, Pharmaceutical, metallurgy, papermaking, plastics and rubber, railway and tramway, textile machinery, etc.
4. Aerospace: Maintenance-free, high efficiency, higher safety level and lighter weight engineering plastic bearings have passed AS 9100C quality standards, which can meet the stringent requirements of fixed and rotary wing aircraft. The number of applied products is also increasing, from landing gear systems, flight control systems, electric execution systems, engine systems, to seat mechanisms, luggage compartment structures, and so on.
5. Household appliances: Engineering plastic bearings can meet the design concepts of household appliances, entertainment, fitness facilities in order to meet user requirements for comfort, safety, lightweight, aesthetics and environmental protection, while reducing noise and increasing energy consumption. Use life. Such as: food cooking machines, power tools, air-conditioning compressors, massage chairs, treadmills, etc.
Development prospects of engineering plastic bearings
Engineering plastic bearings have broad market prospects! In recent years, engineering plastic bearings have been welcomed by more and more users, and have been used more and more widely! In particular, modern industry is increasingly demanding for high efficiency and quiet, low energy consumption and environmental protection. Engineering plastic bearings have outstanding advantages, and the market demand has maintained a high double-digit growth rate! Coupled with China's Belt and Road strategic development, the market size will double. The domestic engineering plastic bearing industry still needs urgently integrated development, increasing investment in research and development of bearing special engineering plastics, cultivating industry talents, and optimizing product design. It is believed that in the near future, China's engineering plastic bearing industry will become bigger and stronger and welcome prosperity.