Page 12 - Dana Glacier Bearings Materials Brochure, designed and produced by Connell Marketing Associates, UK

Polymer Based Materials
The automotive industry is a major user of polymer based plain bearing materials.
In many of the applications the friction and wear properties of the polymer material are
significant features of the successful engineering of the particular component or
mechanism.
Polymer Based Examples
Glacier DU Glacier DU and DU-B
(including DU-B and DP)
Glacier DU
(including DU-B and DP)
Glacier DU is a metal backed,
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)
and lead lined, composite bearing
material designed to operate
without lubrication at temperatures incorporation of finely divided
between -200°C and +250°C.
It can be loaded up to 250N/mm²
dependent on conditions.
DU resists most solvents and
many industrial liquids and gases,
including water and oil, most of
which improve its performance.
It has negligible “stick-slip”, is
tolerant of dusty environments,
and does not accumulate static
electricity. During normal dry
operation, a thin film from the
PTFE lining is transferred to the
opposing surface and maintained
there throughout the working
life of the bearing.
Therefore, DU bushes cannot be
bored, broached or burnished to
size after installation unless the
application is such that a
reduction in the performance of
the material can be tolerated. The
metal backing material is normally
mild steel, but a bronze backed
version, identified as DU-B, is
available where corrosion
resistance is important.
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Glacier DP 4
Glacier DP4
DP4 is the first of a family of new
products. The structure is similar to acetal co-polymer lined, composite
that of Glacier DU. The PTFE matrix
of Glacier DP4 is lead free however,
and is strengthened by the
calcium fluoride and polymer fibres.
Glacier DP4 has been developed for
suspension applications to
accommodate more demanding
strut operating conditions and is
designed to withstand the increased
side loads and rod flexure which
have made conventional strut guide
bush materials susceptible to wear
and flow erosion. DP4 also offers
excellent wear resistance in
hydraulic pump applications and is
suitable for use unlubricated under
moderate duty conditions.
Glacier DX
Glacier DX
Glacier DX is a steel backed,
bearing material designed for
marginally lubricated operation
and is particularly suitable where
continuous oil lubrication is
uneconomic or inappropriate.
The bearing surface may be
supplied indented for grease
lubrication, or it may be plain for
applications where fluid lubrication
is available. The indented material
surface, which should be filled with
suitable grease during assembly, is
designed to provide optimum
distribution of the lubricant over the
bearing surface. Dependent on
conditions, DX can withstand
temperatures from -40°C up to
130°C for short periods and
specific loads up to 140N/mm².
The wrapped bushes are available
in prefinished or machinable form.
The latter may be bored, reamed,
or broached to size after installation.