iglidur Q2E: a lubricant-free world for heavy machinery

In one test, the new high-load bearing withstood 130 MPa

In construction machinery, agricultural machinery, commercial vehicles and offshore installations, plain bearings often face extreme conditions such as heavy loads. igus has therefore further developed its lubricant-free two-component bearing iglidur Q2E. The material iglidur Q2 ensures a tested high degree of wear resistance and a hard polymer shell protects the heavy-duty bearing.

Dirt, impacts and high edge loads. Bearings in construction machinery, agricultural machinery and offshore installations often have a tough time and have to cope with extreme conditions. Wear-resistant and dirt-resistant materials are therefore needed. igus has now upgraded its Q2E heavy-duty bearing for exactly such use scenarios. igus is expanding its bearing program for heavy-duty applications and closing the gap between existing bearings and solutions made of metal and composites. The bearing consists of high-performance plastic and is therefore completely lubricant- and corrosion-free. The absence of lubricant enables maintenance-free operation of the plain bearings and prevents machine failures due to lack of lubrication. Expensive central lubrication systems are no longer necessary. Dirt and impurities can no longer adhere to the bearing points and this minimizes wear. In addition, less grease and oil escapes into the environment, resulting in reduced annual consumption of more than 35 metric tons of lubricant as measured by RWTH Aachen University. Another advantage: the injection molding method used to produce the plain bearings is particularly cost-effective.

The combination is the secret

Two materials in a closed design ensure that the bearing can handle even the most extreme edge loads. This is because the iglidur Q2E features a rigid polymer shell and a tribologically optimized core made of iglidur Q2. If used for a sliding bearing with a diameter of 20 mm, this material is also extremely dimensionally stable and wear-resistant even under high loads of more than 7 metric tons. By acting as a protective sheath, the shell makes the bearing very robust and ensures that it has a longer service life. igus has demonstrated this in its own test laboratory. In the hinge test, the material withstood a radial load of 130 MPa. iglidur Q2E is initially available for shaft diameters of 20, 25, 30 and 40 mm.