Why Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube Are Ideal For Pump Bearings
Self lubricating
Vesconite is internally lubricated with advanced internal lubricants that are compounded as part of the material. This gives Vesconite a low frictioneven in the absence of additional lubrication. Low friction means low wear.
Low friction
Vesconite has a low coefficient of friction. Even when lubrication or wateris not present.
Stick-slip does not occur with Vesconite bearings even if pumps have been in standby mode for long periods of time without operating. This canreduce the requirement to prime bearings before starting a pump. This is critically important for emergency type pumps such as fire pumps, settler pumps and flood pumps.
Able to run dry
Pump bearings often need to withstand dry running for short intervals, for example at start up or if the pump inlet becomes blocked. Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube's internal lubricants give them a very low friction even when lubrication is not present.
Vesconite survives dry run conditions without damaging the bearing.Many bearing materials operate well under well lubricated situations, but fail when lubrication is not present.
No water swell
Vesconite does not swell or softenin water, where as most synthetic materials swell in water. Vesconite bearings can be machined accurately to size and maintain these sizes even when immersed.
To compensate for the water swell and to avoid the risk of seizures,excessive clearances are used.With Vesconite, close clearances can be maintained, reducing vibration and shaft run out. Large clearances should be avoided because:
- Bearing wear rate increases
- Bearing life is shortened
- Shaft vibration increases,making the shaft lessstable.
Drinking water approval
Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube have under gone extensive testing and have been approved by an independent water quality authority for hot and cold drinking water applications.
Vesconite bearings can be used in continuous full contact drinking water applications.
Environmentally friendly
Environmental problems caused by oil or grease lubrication can be avoided. This means simpler pump design and operation, with great cost savings.
The good chemical resistance of Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube means that a large range of pumped media can be used to lubricate thebearings.
High compressionstrength
Vesconite keeps its strength even when wet and does not creep under high loads.Loads on Vesconite bearings do not result in compression deformation or compression set. This means that the shaft is more stable.High load capacity Vesconite bearings offer better load capacity than many traditional rubber or elastomer bearings.
Low shaft wear
Wear of expensive shafts can be more of aproblem than wear of a bearing because of the cost of the shaft. Shaft wear is especially severe in dirty operating conditions.
Appropriately designed hard shafts running in Vesconite bearings exhibit exceptionally lowwear. Vesconite Hilube further reduces shaft wear due to its lower friction.
In particular nylons and many rubber materials are noted for damage caused to shafts
Easy to install and remove
Vesconite bearings are easy to install and remove without the need for expensive equipment. Bearings can be easily installed onsite with a minimum of effort and equipment,using simple mechanical methods.
Vesconite does not corrode and seize in bearing housings, unlike bronze and metal backed bearings which become difficult toremove.
Easy to machine
Vesconite can be easily machined on standard metal working equipment.
Vesconite does not creep, deformor swell and machines easily to desired tolerances.
No delamination
Delamination is the peeling off of layers of a laminated bearing material. This often happens in immersed conditions where water or liquid penetrates the exposed micro-channels that are formed by the cloth reinforcing material.Swelling occurs along the micro channel surfaces causing stresses between the layers of the laminate, resulting in the layers peeling off.Vesconite is a homogeneous material with no lamination reinforcement and so does not delaminate.
Resistant to chemicals
In addition to its excellent performance in water, Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube are resistant to a wide range of chemicals including acids, organic chemicals, solvents, hydrocarbons, oils and fuels.Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube bearings can therefore be lubricated by a range of pumped media. Mixtures of water, oils and fuels do notdamage Vesconite bearings.
Safety and health
Vesconite does not contain any hazardous substances such as asbestos or fibres that make using, handling and machining unsafe.Vesconite is an exceptionally clean material tomachine and possesses no fibre or dusthazards.
Low thermal expansion
Vesconite bearings do not change size significantly as the operating temperature changes, so close clearances can be maintained across a wide temperature range.
This means that Vesconite bearings can be designed with mini malrunning clearances without danger of shaft seizures.