Reinforced Nylon Bushing Option
Plain bearings in bicycle applications get subjected to a good amount of abuse, from high shock loads as the rider makes their way over uneven terrain, to potentially high speeds as some bikes can reach speeds in excess of 70 mph. Then there are the issues of environmental contaminants, namely water, mud, sand, and other debris. That means that cleaning is required, often in the form of steam. It takes a special type of bushing to stand up under these types of rigors. One of the options to consider is reinforced nylon.
For even more articles for advanced polymer bushings for the bicycle industry check out these posts from the Engineer’s choice Advanced EMC Technologies Blog:
- Fluorolon Polymer Materials for Off-Road Bikes: Carbon Fiber Reinforced PPS
- Bushings: Nylon 6, Nylon 66, and Self-lubricating Nylon
- Polymer Rear Hub Bushings: Wear Resistant Self-Lubricating Bushings for the Bicycle Industry
Nylon as a Base Polymer
As a base polymer, Nylon 6/6 offers strength, wear resistance, low friction, and stiffness, which is why it remains a popular polymer choice for replacing metal parts. Nylon also possess fairly good impact strength. Its known for its effective resistance to oils and hydrocarbons. In addition, it performs very well in a wide range of temperatures.
Nylon also offers resistance to abrasion, which is important for bearings that are going to be subject to sand, dirt, and other environmental debris. Another benefit of nylon is its ability to be steam cleaned. These are vital properties for any bicycle bushing to possess.
Nylon also offers a significant weight savings when used to replace metal parts, as well as better tolerances and higher accuracy parts.
Reinforced Nylon
With the correct choice of additives, such as fiberglass or carbon, Nylon 6/6 experiences a significant increase in its impact strength, stiffness, dimensional stability, and compressive all key characteristics of reliable bushings in a bicycle application. PTFE lubricated nylon will have an incredibly low coefficient of friction, further improving the performance and life of a plain bearing.
Advanced Technology Polymer Bushings
Reinforced Nylon 6/6 offers many benefits when its used for bushings or plain bearings in a bicycle: strength, stiffness, impact resistance, abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, high accuracy parts, easy to clean, and very low friction.
Dont just settle for the same old bushings, when advances in technology have made it possible to use polymer bushings that can outlast and outperform their metal counterparts.
Get your free chart on Advanced EMC Technologies Bearing Material.
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