igus launches wear-resistant plain bearing range without PTFE

Material scientists have developed PTFE-free versions of the most popular iglidur plain bearing materials

Just in time for Hannover Messe, igus is announcing a breakthrough: the material developers in Cologne have succeeded in producing the established polymer plain bearings from the iglidur G, iglidur X and iglidur H series, which are used in machines, systems and vehicles worldwide, without PTFE. This is good news for a lot of companies that are already looking for future-proof alternatives due to the prospect of stricter PFAS regulations or even a ban.

At igus in Cologne, intensive research and testing has been carried out in recent years in the in-house material development department. The focus: plain bearings of the standard series with PTFE. "We have succeeded in developing a PTFE-free version for the material in the iglidur G series," says Lars Butenschön, Head of the iglidur Plain Bearing Technology Business Unit at igus. We are particularly pleased because iglidur G is a popular all-rounder in the igus product range, which can be found across the globe in mechanical engineering, plant construction and the automotive industry due to its high wear resistance and low friction. Maintaining this versatility without PTFE required a great deal of development effort. Thanks to the sophisticated design of the formulations, the familiar material specifications in terms of temperature stability, mechanical strength and shrinkage behavior remained virtually unchanged, as confirmed by tests in the company's own 4,000m2 test laboratory. This is where igus more than 60 years of experience with tribologically optimized plastics pays off.

Changeover to PTFE-free polymer bearings with no problems or adjustments
But that is not all. The iglidur X series, which is characterized by high temperature resistance and used in the aerospace industry, among others, is now also PTFE-free. This also applies to iglidur H, a series that is suitable for the marine industry and chemical engineering due to its high moisture resistance. In 2024, igus had already managed to dispense with PTFE in the equally popular iglidur J and iglidur W series. "We have now found PTFE-free alternatives for the top five iglidur plain bearing materials, which cover 80% of all iglidur applications worldwide," says Lars Butenschön. A large number of potential users therefore no longer need to worry about future PFAS regulations. They can switch to the new versions exactly as they are without having to invest in customizations. "The price is almost identical in most cases."

"Many of our customers are currently unsettled by the prospect of stricter PFAS regulations"
The breakthrough by the igus developers is significant because the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently looking into a possible ban on the PFAS chemical group - for reasons of environmental and health protection. For companies, these changes mean a huge change. PFAS repel water, grease and dirt and can therefore be found in hundreds of thousands of products, e.g. rain jackets, non-stick pans and fast-food packaging. igus also uses PTFE, a family member of the PFAS group, for the self-lubricating effect of polymer plain bearings. "Many of our customers are currently working hard to find solutions in view of the prospect of stricter PFAS regulations or even a ban," says Butenschön. "They are thus already looking for plain bearings that do not require PTFE to be on the safe side with their products in the future." igus is therefore investing more in research and development to find alternatives to PFAS.

You can find more information on PTFE-free materials at igus on the website: https://www.igus.sg/company/products/ptfe-free
Download Whitepaper: https://www.igus.sg/service/contact/whitepaper-pfas

84 Genting Lane #06-03 Axxel Innovation Centre Singapore

igus GmbH develops and produces motion plastics. These lubrication-free, high-performance polymers improve technology and reduce costs wherever things move. In energy supplies, highly flexible cables, plain and linear bearings as well as lead screw technology made of tribo-polymers, igus is the worldwide market leader. The family-run company based in Cologne, Germany, is represented in 33 countries and employs around 5,200 people across the globe. In 2024, igus generated a turnover of €1,105 billion. Research in the industry's largest test laboratories constantly yields innovations and more security for users. 245,000 articles are available from stock and the service life can be calculated online. In recent years, the company has expanded by creating internal startups, e.g. for ball bearings, robot drives, 3D printing, the RBTX platform for Lean Robotics and intelligent "smart plastics" for Industry 4.0. Among the most important environmental investments are the "chainge" programme - recycling of used e-chains - and the participation in an enterprise that produces oil from plastic waste.

This release was published on openPR.