High speeds, oscillating movements or extreme temperatures – plain bearings have to work properly at all times and with reliability even under the toughest conditions. They are used in all areas of application, from the automotive industry to cement production and energy generation with wind power stations, as well as the marine, agricultural, forestry and water management sectors. A key role for long-lasting durability and reliability of plain bearings is played by specialty lubricants. Selecting exactly the right specialty lubricant for each specific application is part and parcel of the component design. In this context, environmental influences and operating conditions such as speed, load and temperature have to be taken into account just as much as particular specifications, for example in the production of food and in the pharmaceuticals industry.

Reduced wear and longer service lives with exactly the right plain bearing lubrication

Klüber Lubrication develops and manufactures specialty lubricants, specially tailored to each application, in close cooperation with manufacturers of plain bearings and scientific institutions. These products help protect components against wear and corrosion and can extend the service lives of plain bearings through low friction coefficients and good performance during start-up. High-performance lubricants for plain bearings are particularly notable for low friction coefficients even at high speeds and under heavy stresses, as well as long relubrication intervals or lifetime lubrication. That saves energy and reduces lubricant consumption, costs and used oil waste. The result is maximum productivity, economy and sustainability.

Lubricating greases, bonded coatings and lubricating oils: the optimum solution for your plain bearings

Plain bearings come in as many and varied forms as their applications – from crankshaft bearings and camshaft bearings to fixed bearings and sintered bearings as well as bronze plain bearings, self-lubricating plain bearings and radial bearings. To match the diversity of the types of bearings and their applications, the range of specialty lubricants from Klüber Lubrication is equally wide. This ensures they are optimally tailored to the plain bearings in each application case and their ambient conditions and tribological systems, thereby providing the best possible lubrication, long-lasting durability and long service lives.

Lubricating greases for plain bearings in the mixed friction regime

Mixed friction involving partial contact of the friction bodies, for example where there is high surface pressure in combination with low speed, as is generated during starting and stopping, pose a special challenge for the lubrication of plain bearings. Klüber Lubrication has developed lubricants for grease-lubricated metal and plastic plain bearings specially for this purpose. They contribute to the optimum formation of a lubricating film and are particularly notable for their compatibility with the bearing material. This results in low-wear operation and up to ten times longer lifetimes compared to conventional plain bearing greases.

Bonded coatings for dry-running plain bearings and for running-in optimisation

Where it is not possible to produce a hydrodynamic film of lubricant, or under extreme operating conditions, bonded coatings enable the formation of a dry lubricant film between the sliding surfaces. They are applied for lifetime lubrication and can also be used as a running-in aid to support lubrication with liquid lubricants. In case of starved lubrication conditions, they can also reduce the risk of damage to the sliding surfaces in the process.

Lubricating oils for hydrodynamic plain bearings

Klüber Lubrication offers a multitude of mineral and synthetic oils for hydrodynamic plain bearings, with exactly the right one being selected in each case depending on the sliding speed, load, temperature and operating conditions. These include universal lubricating oils as well as specialty lubricants for temperatures up to 450 degrees Celsius, lubricating oils with NSF-H1 certification and other certifications for the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as environmentally friendly EAL bio-lubricants for the marine industry or lubricants that are rapidly biodegradable for the agricultural, forestry and water management sectors.

For which application do you need the right high-performance lubricant?

Top quality, reliability and innovation – that is what Klüber Lubrication stands for. We are your competent partner for all aspects of reliable lubrication of plain bearings with lubricating greases, bonded coatings and lubricating oils.

Are you looking for exactly the right specialty lubricant for your plain bearings? Do you have questions or do you need advice on a special solution? We will be glad to help you - talk with our specialists about your project!

At a glance: specialty lubricants for plain bearings

  • Protection against wear and reliable separation of the shaft and bearing shell: specialty lubricants enable plain bearings to provide long-lasting service.
  • Low friction and long relubrication intervals: Klüber Lubrication lubricants for plain bearings are tailored to each application and its tribological requirements.
  • Lubricating greases, bonded coatings and lubricating oils: exactly the right lubrication solutions for a multitude of industries, special applications and extreme ambient conditions.
  • Individual solutions for tribological challenges: In close contact with manufacturers of plain bearings, customers and research institutions, we develop specialty lubricants for plain bearings and provide assistance on selection and use.
  • Tested, proven and available worldwide: Klüber Lubrication specialty lubricants are put through intensive trials and testing. After certification they are available worldwide.

Here you find a product selection of all primary applications for plain bearings

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