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Why Material Selection Can Reduce Downtime

Many types of heavy machinery, equipment, and work vehicles incorporate bearings, bushings, and wear pads in moving parts and assemblies. They keep components aligned and spaced properly, ensure good fit between parts, and reduce wear and tear in spots where parts come together. For example,

These components can be made from many different materials with different properties. When choosing the appropriate raw material, it is important to select the one with the best combination of properties that is appropriate for the application at hand.

WS Hampshire brings decades of industry experience and material expertise to develop non-metallic alternatives to traditional bearing, bushing, and wear pad materials used in industrial machinery applications. We have access to both domestic and global sources for raw materials, and full-service CNC machining and fabrication capabilities for nearly unlimited production options.

Read on to learn how bushings, bearings, and wear pads from WS Hampshire can reduce downtime, improve equipment reliability, and extend the lifespan of industrial components.

The Impact of Material Selection on Downtime

Choosing the right material for the job usually means finding the best balance between material strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, and other qualities. This allows for maximum service life of the bearing, bushing, or wear pad, and also keeps equipment and machinery in good repair. And of course, less downtime due to maintenance, repair, or replacement of worn parts.

Engineered composite materials like thermoset plastics, thermoplastics, fiberglass, and laminates have two important jobs. First they must protect equipment and parts, and second, they must be able to withstand the rigors of regular operation, such as:

Whether equipment failure is the result of direct damage to parts and mechanisms, or due to a breakdown of protective components like bearings or wear pads, the result is often unplanned downtime, disrupted production, and extra costs.

Extending Part Life Through Material Selection

Selecting an appropriate material for the equipment and application helps to optimize productive time in manufacturing, processing, and other industrial operations. Common non-metal materials for bearings, bushings, and wear pads generally fall into two broad types.

Thermoset plastics

These polymers undergo chemical changes due to heat, UV light, or other catalysts and become “set” in their new shape permanently. They cannot be melted or remolded, and instead will degrade when exposed to high temperatures.

Thermosets tend to be very rigid, hard, temperature-resistant, and structurally stable. They can also be reinforced with fiberglass, carbon fiber, or Kevlar for added strength and durability.

One common example is Ryertex composite materials, which are low friction, high temperature resistant, fiber-reinforced polymers. They can replace metal components in high load, high speed, high temperature applications.

Thermoplastics

In contrast, thermoplastics can be molded, formed, or machined, then can be remelted and formed into a new shape. They are impact, chemical, and corrosion resistant and are good at reducing vibrations in equipment.

Thermoplastics generally have a low coefficient of friction, high mechanical strength, stiffness, and hardness, can be mixed with fillers or rubber to improve flexibility, and take paint or coatings well.

Some common thermoplastics include:

Return on Investment (ROI)

Using the best material for your application helps to extend the service life of machines and equipment by protecting parts that touch or move against each other. Damage and wear from vibration, abrasion, or rust can be greatly reduced with bearings, bushings, and wear pads that are strong, inert barriers between pieces.

As a result, equipment components do not need to be repaired or replaced as frequently, which boosts uptime. Investing in high-quality materials increases initial costs, but there is a return on investment thanks to:

Invest in Reliability – Choose WS Hampshire

At WS Hampshire, we specialize in custom fabrication of non-metallic wear pads and other components from materials including Timco Technical Thermoplastics and Ryertex^® Composites. With years of experience working closely with a variety of thermoset and thermoplastic materials, we can help you select the best material for your application and develop a custom solution.

Contact us today to learn more about our material selection and capabilities.

Calcium Silicate Insulation

Calcium silicate insulation is a high heat-tolerant, durable material used in many industrial applications to limit heat transfer, including industrial furnaces, piping, steelmaking, and more. In its original form, it is a white powder that is mixed with water and molded into different shapes. Once cured, it becomes rigid.  

Learn more about the properties of calcium silicate, different types and forms available, and typical applications for use.
 

Properties of Calcium Silicate Insulation

Calcium Silicate, is made of calcium oxide (lime), silica (SiO2), and cellulose fiber. This non-asbestos, inorganic mixture is blended into a pulp that can be molded into sheets of varying thicknesses. 

Once cured, calcium silicate is incredibly heat-resistant and durable, making it suitable for many heavy-duty, high-temperature, and fire applications in different industries. The material’s properties include:

Depending on the type, calcium silicate components can withstand a range of operating temperatures, some as high as 1200°F or higher:

WS Hampshire offers a family of calcium silicate insulation materials for different settings and applications.

Marinite^® A, C, P, I, and M Fireproof Insulation

This fireproof material comes in several formulations for specific applications. Marinite^® A and C and heat-treated for conveying, containing, and forming molten aluminum and non-ferrous alloys. Marinite^® P, I, and M are oven-dried for use with machined parts, fire protection, and heat insulating processes. All formulations feature:

CS85 Product Line

CS85 calcium silicate boards are a high-temperature and electrically resistant material for applications reaching temperatures up to 1800°F. Some common applications for CS85 sheets or custom-fit shapes include:

• Electrical resistance insulation
• Foundry core and blow plates
• Hot glass handling
• Induction furnace casing
• Platen press insulation

Transite^® HT and 1000

Transite^® cement can be used for higher temperatures, loads, and electrical conditions than other asbestos-free products. They also shrink less than alternative materials. This material can be installed with busbars, press plates, foundry core plates, arc shields, and other high-temperature applications. 

The Transite^® HT formulation can be used in operating temperatures up to 450°F or 600°F if heat-conditioned. Transite^® 1000 has an operating temperature range from 600°F to 1000°F.

Both formulations offer these benefits: