Vesconite

Plain Bearings:
• A plain bearing, (A.K.A - sliding bearing, slide bearing, solid bearing, journal bearing, or friction bearing) is the
simplest type of bearing, comprising just a bearing surface and no rolling elements
• Therefore, the journal (i.e., the part of the shaft in contact with the bearing) slides over the bearing surface
• The simplest example of a plain bearing is a shaft rotating in a hole
• A simple linear bearing can be a pair of flat surfaces designed to allow motion (e.g. a drawer and the slides it rests)
• Least expensive type of bearing
• They are also compact and lightweight, and they have a high load-carrying capacity

About Vesconite:
• The development of Vesconite started in 1968 in an attempt to find a bearing material suitable for use in deep
gold mines (depths up to 3.5 km below the surface), in exceptionally harsh operating conditions
• Traditional bushing materials experienced problems in these conditions:
• Bronze bushes failed because of poor lubrication and dirty conditions
• Nylon bushes swelled and could not hold size in the moist conditions, losing their clearance and seizing
• What was needed was a self lubricating, low friction material that would give a long wear life in the dirty and wet
conditions – the answer was found in the development of Vesconite and Vesconite HiLube
• Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube are specialised plain bearing materials made from internally lubricated low
friction polymers

Why Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube are ideal for long life, low maintenance bushes:
• Low wear: Vesconite gives a low wear rate on the bush and shaft. In dirty conditions, Vesconite Hilube running
against suitably hard shafts gives a low shaft and bush wear.
• Low friction: Vesconite has a low friction even when running dry.
• Vesconite's low friction applies under actual operating conditions.
• Stick-slip is minimal with Vesconite and does not occur with Vesconite Hilube.
• Internally lubricated: Vesconite is compounded with internal lubricants that form an integral part of the material.
This gives Vesconite a low friction and a low wear rate even when running without lubrication.
• Common problems experienced:
• Bronze must be greased
• Lubrication is not always wanted or possible
• Grease on linear bearings can trap dirt
• Small oscillating movements do not spread grease
• High compression strength: Vesconite has a compression strength of 90MPa. The recommended design limit is
30MPa for static and slow speed applications. Vesconite keeps its strength even when wet.
• Common problems: Nylons lose more than half of their strength and rigidity when wet, leading to creep under
load.
• Low water swell: Vesconite absorbs less than 0.5% of water when immersed, giving a linear swell of less that
0.07%. In most applications this can be ignored.
• This is especially important in applications that are immersed in water such as pumps, Archimedes screws,
marine applications or in humid conditions.
• Nylons absorb up to 9% of their mass, causing up to 3% swell and a critical loss of clearance that can lead
to seizure.
• Low thermal expansion: Vesconite has a lower thermal expansion than most synthetic materials.
• Vesconite can be precisely designed across a wide temperature range without the need for additional
clearances.
• Low shaft wear: Wear of expensive shafts can be a primary cost concern.
• Vesconite running against hard shafts gives low shaft wear.
• Vesconite Hilube gives even lower shaft wear.
• In particular nylons are noted for wear to shafts.
• Resistant to chemicals: Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube are resistant to a wide range of chemicals including acids,
organic chemicals, solvents, hydrocarbons, oils and fuels. Refer to the design manual for a detailed Chemical
Resistance Chart
• No delamination: Vesconite is a homogeneous material and is not made up of bonded layers of material.
Vesconite does not delaminate when immersed in water or fluids.
• Easy to machine: Vesconite can be easily machined on standard metalworking equipment. Vesconite does not
creep, deform or swell and machines easily to desired tolerances.
• Easy to install (See Fig 1): Vesconite bushes are easily installed on site.
• Easy to remove (See Fig 2): Vesconite does not corrode and seize in bush housings like
bronze and metal backed bushes.
• Safety and health:
• Vesconite does not contain any hazardous substances such as asbestos or fibres
that make using, handling and machining unsafe.
• Vesconite is approved for contact use with drinking water and food.
• Environment friendly:
• Vesconite avoids many environmental problems because oil and grease lubrication can be dispensed with.
• Vesconite contains no lead, asbestos or hazardous substances.
*visit https://www.vesconite.com/ (also consult the vesconite design manual for typical vesconite and veconite
Hilube applications (pg 4-12) and vesconite compared to other bushing materials (pg 14-15))

Vesconite Website:
• Use the internet online Design-a-Bearing calculators on www.vesconite.com.

Will Vesconite Work:

• All plain bearing materials have limits for the combination of the load and speed.
• This is known as the pressure x velocity limit or PV limit.
• The PV limit is determined by the heat build-up at the bearing surface, which is influenced by a number of factors
including:
• Coefficient of friction between bush and shaft
• Loading of bush surface (expressed as "P")
• sliding speed (expressed as "V")
• ability of bearing to lose any heat generated
• lubrication and cooling available
• dry, wet or immersed application.
• Internally lubricated Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube have low friction coefficients which give a lower rate of heat
build-up.
• These materials cannot however lose the heat generated as easily as metals.

Design – Calculate the Load (P):

• This is the pressure on the bush and is the load on the bush load area
• The area is estimated to be the shaft diameter multiplied by the bush length
• The bush load is calculated as follows:

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐤𝐠 ×𝟗.𝟖 𝐦.𝐬 −𝟐

𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏 = (MPa) - metric
𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐦 ×𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐦

Maximum loads:
• Vesconite can safely be loaded to 30 MPa in static and slow moving applications.
• Vesconite has a compression failure limit of 90 MPa and so a safety factor of 3 is already included in the
calculations.
Design – Calculate the Sliding Speed (V):
Maximum sliding speed:
• This is the surface sliding speed between the bush and the shaft.
• Maximum surface speed is 300 m/min in running dry and under a low load.
For rotation – rotational speed [RPM]:

𝐑𝐏𝐌×𝛑×𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫(𝐦𝐦)
𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐕 = 𝐦𝐦 m/minute
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝐦

For oscillation – angle of oscillation [∝]:

∝×𝟐×𝛑×𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦(𝐦𝐦)×𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲(𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬/𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞)
𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐕 = 𝐦𝐦
𝟑𝟔𝟎×𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝐦

For linear motion – travel distance [s]:

𝐬(𝐦𝐦)×𝟐×𝛑×𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲(𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬/𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞)
𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐕 = 𝐦𝐦
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝐦

Design – Consider PV Limits for Load and Speed Combinations:

• The level of lubrication required is determined by the PV
– Combination of Load and Speed.
• This lubrication is required to dissipate the heat build-up
as well as to reduce the friction coefficient between the
surfaces.

Design – Lubrication Requirements:

• Although an application may not require lubrication, initial greasing when fitting the bush is generally an
advantage.
• Greasing on installation will significantly improve the life of a bush as well as reduce the risk of the shaft rusting.
• The data on he previous slide are based on numerous tests for Vesconite performance and represent guidelines.
• Applications have performed successfully with operating conditions beyond the limits noted.
• The guidelines on the previous slide also reflect continuous operation. Vesconite can operate successfully at higher
PV levels in intermittent and short term operations.
• Vesconite can be lubricated by using :
• grease – organic and synthetic greases are fine, synthetic greases tend to last longer
• oils
• water – clear water and sea water are good lubricants
• because it has a good resistance to chemicals, Vesconite can be lubricated by many liquids present in the
application, such as gasoline and organic chemicals.

Design – Temperature Rating of Vesconite:

• Typically Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube are limited to between 100°C and 120°C in dry conditions and 60° to
70°C in immersed conditions.
Design – Securing Bushes (Interference Fits):
• The easiest method to secure a Vesconite bush
is to use an interference fit, and may be used for
bushes that operate at temperatures up to 70°C.
• Vesconite is a rigid material and may be easily
secured with an interference fit without the
need for additional methods.
• The bush can easily be installed and removed
using simple mechanical methods
Design – Chamfers and Edge Breaks:
• Lead in chamfers on the Vesconite bush and the metal housing
ease installation and ensure that the bush will not be scored.
• Corners should be broken to limit edge chipping and aid the
installation of the shaft.

Design – Minimum and Maximum Wall Thickness:

• It is generally recommended that the wall thickness should be about 10% of the shaft diameter with a practical
range of between 5% and 20% of the shaft diameter.
• For thinner Vesconite bushes, take care when machining and fitting to avoid cracking.
• Bonding and mechanical securing may be required to ensure that the bush is properly secured.

Design – Designing Press Fits, Clearances and Tolerances:

• The most common cause of failure is inadequate clearance.
• If too little clearance is provided, a bush mail fail even if the application is suited to Vesconite.
• This may happen when Vesconite is machined to a bronze drawing specification.
Design – Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube Size Calculations (same sizes apply to both):
• Calculate the press fits/interference fits
• The following equations are for press fitted bushes, the most common method for securing Vesconite
𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝐦𝐦 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐 × 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠∅ 𝐦𝐦
• Calculate the bore closure
• The closure of the inside diameter when a bush is pressed into a housing is called the bore closure
𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠∅
𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 = 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭 × 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭∅
• Calculate the assembly clearance
• This is the difference in diameter between the fitted bush insider diameter and the shaft
𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝐦𝐦 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐 × 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐦
• Calculate the bush dimensions
𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 = 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 + 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭
𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 = 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 + 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 + 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Design – Correct Sizing:
• For temperatures below 0°C, an additional press fit is required to ensure that the bush stays in place at the lower
temperature.
𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭 = 𝟎 − 𝐓𝐦𝐢𝐧 × 𝟓. 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 × 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠∅ 𝐦𝐦
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭 = 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭 + 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭
𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 = 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭 + 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭
𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠∅
𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 = 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐭 × 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭∅
• For moderate temperatures from 50°C to 70°C, an extra clearance is required to allow the bush to expand without
the danger of shaft seizure.
𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠∅𝟐 −𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭∅𝟐
𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 = × (𝐓𝐦𝐚𝐱 − 𝟓𝟎) × 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝐦𝐦
𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭∅

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 = 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 + 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 + 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 +

𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
• For temperatures higher than 70°C, the bearing needs to be split with a minimum expansion gap.
𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐚𝐩 > 𝟎. 𝟓 + 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠∅ × 𝟑. 𝟏𝟒 × (𝐓𝐦𝐚𝐱 − 𝟐𝟎) × 𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝐦𝐦
𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 = 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 = 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 + 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
• Bushes with an expansion gap cannot be press fitted, and should be mechanically secured, for example with grub
screws or key ways (see later slide).
Design – Correct Sizing Machining after Installation:
• If it is necessary to machine the bush inner diameter to size after installation, then 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓 =
𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒇𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓 + 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 + 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
Machining tolerances

Design – Bushes with Small Assembly Clearances:

• Where a small assembly clearance is required, consider the following options:
• The wall thickness should be as thin as possible. Much of the assembly clearance requirement is
determined by the wall thickness and is a characteristic of the expansion properties of Vesconite.
• On thin walled bushes, specify size and tolerance on outside diameter and wall thickness.
• Install the bush into the housing and then finally machine. This avoids stacking of tolerances and closer
clearances can be achieved with confidence

Design – Mechanical Securing of Bushes (Grub or Locating Screws):

• Grub screws are a convenient and effective way to stop rotation and axial
migration.
• The Vesconite bush should be drilled to accept the grub screw.
• This is to avoid excessive spot pressure being placed on the bush which could lead
to cracking or distortion.
• Ensure that grub screws are suitably bonded or secured into their threads so that
they do not vibrate or work loose and cause damage to the equipment.

Design – Mechanical Securing of Bushes (Keeper Plates):

• Keeper plates are recommended to avoid axial movement of the bush.
• Care must be taken that no excessive pressure is placed on the bush

Design – Flanged Bush Secured with Bolts:

• An advantage of using a flanged bush is that the flange allows for easy installation and removal.
• Note that flanged bushes are usually more expensive.

Design – Bonding:
• Use an epoxy, Loctite or other suitable bonding agent for metal on plastics which will sustain the expected
operating temperature. Roughening both surfaces will improve the bond.
Design – Grooves:
• Grooves are a simple and economical way to improve bearing performance significantly
Groove depth
• Should not be more than half of the wall thickness.
• Usually a minimum depth of 2 mm is advised to form an effective grease and dirt trap.
Groove shape
• Can be square or round.
• Typically grooves are twice as wide as they are deep.
 Types of Grooves
Straight Grooves Circular Grooves Spiral, Loop, Figure of 8 Combinations
At the bush ends or in the Various combinations can be
Higher speed applications N/A
centre used

• Circular grooves at either

• These may be required to
• Running blind – especially end with straight or spiral
These grooves can be used for: distribute grease across
in dirty conditions to keep grooves.
• Grease and oil distribution. the bearing surface.
dirt out of the bearing. • Circular grooves in the
• Dirt trap – the dirt stays in • Because of the self
• Running through – used centre to distribute the
the grooves rather than on lubricating properties of
when a continuous water lubricant to the other
the bearing surface. Vesconite, the shape and
or oil flow through the grooves.
• To contain seals if quantity of these grooves
bearing is required in a • Holes are often added to
required. is less critical than with a
demanding application. link up with an external
bronze bearing.
dedicated greasing system.

Bushes in Dirty Conditions:

• Dirt in a bush application accelerates wear and should be avoided wherever possible.
• Grease applied to bushes in dirty applications may trap dust on the wearing surface and result in faster wear.
• Because Vesconite (and more so Vesconite Hilube) is internally lubricated, greasing can often be avoided and the
dirt trap problem is also limited.
• If lubrication is required in dirty conditions consider the following options:
• Use the deep grooves to trap dirt away from the bearing surface
• Seal bush using o-rings or felt seals to reduce the entry of dirt
• Constantly flush the bearing with clean water, oil or air etc.
Shafts and Housing - Tolerances:
• Standard ISO machining tolerances of H7 for metal housings and h7 for metal shafts are recommended for use
with Vesconite bushes.
• Tight clearances and thin walled sections may require tighter tolerances on metal components.
Shafts:
• Metal mating surfaces must suit the media and wear conditions encountered.
• Mild carbon steels and stainless steel shafts are acceptable for moderate applications.
• Non corrosive shafts are better as shaft corrosion will result in rapid wear.
• When operating in sandy or abrasive conditions, hard shaft surfaces ensure longer shaft as well as bush
life.
• In dirty conditions, Vesconite Hilube running against hard shafts gives the best performance.
Ideal Materials:
• Hardchrome plated surfaces
• Hardnesses > 50 Rockwell (C) are ideal
Housing and Casing:
• Housing metals are not critical provided they do not corrode severely under the operating conditions.
Surface Finishes:
• The surface finish of the shaft is important to ensure long bush life.
• A recommended ground finish of 0.5 μm Ra is ideal. Shaft roughness should not exceed 2.5 μm Ra
• Shaft roundness is important
Housing and Casings:
• The surface finish on the housing is not critical as there is no movement after installation.
• To facilitate installing the bush, the housing surface should be smooth.
• Lead in chamfers are advised to avoid scoring or shaving of the bush during installation.
• Ovality of the housing must be avoided. If housing ovality presents a problem, it is best to install the bush and then
bore the inside diameter to size after installation.