I read an interesting article recently that estimated up to 80% of all industrial bearing failures (catastrophic, functional and premature) are related to improper lubrication. The article listed a number of common challenges associated with manual greasing; everything from poor lubricant selection and incorrect application, to lubricant contamination and eventual degradation. Without the right level of lubrication, of course, bearing surfaces are less able to distribute heat, and are prone to failure from corrosion, friction and other issues.
This brought to mind a question we see often on our Ask the Expert portal ― how do self-lubricating bearings actually work to eliminate the need for manual greasing?
Polymer bearings possess inherent lubrication characteristics; in fact, manually greasing a self-lubricating bearing can actually deteriorate the material, since the grease becomes more of a lapping compound. The lapping action will attract debris and shorten wear life. Check out our video below to learn more about how self-lubricating bearing systems work:
Could self-lubricating bearings be the right fit to replace your metal bearings? Talk to our team and request a quote today!
Dave Biering
