igus Develops PTFE and Bisphenol-Free Bearing Material for Food Processing
igus, a global manufacturer of high-performance polymer components for moving parts, developed a new material called iglidur A181PF for plain bearings, which are small mechanical components that allow parts of a machine to move or rotate smoothly, used inside food-processing machinery. The material does not contain any PTFE or bisphenols.
The new material was developed as manufacturers face changing regulatory requirements surrounding chemicals used in food-processing equipment. PTFE belongs to the PFAS group, for which the European Chemicals Agency is currently working on a restriction proposal submitted by several EU member states. At the same time, EU Regulation 2024/3190 introduces new requirements concerning bisphenols in food-contact materials.
Dr Magnus Orth, Head of the igus Materials Center, stated: “We have therefore developed the new A181PF plain bearing for food-processing machinery, which contains no PTFE or bisphenols, […] Customers can be confident that the material meets the stringent requirements of the food industry. It therefore offers greater planning security in the face of future regulatory developments,”
Plain bearings are used across food-processing machinery in applications including pivot arms, guides, flaps and rollers. According to igus, replacing PTFE represented a technical challenge because the material has traditionally played an important role in providing a low coefficient of friction and good dry-running properties in its bearings.
The company developed an alternative based on a combination of solid lubricants and an optimized polymer matrix. The resulting iglidur A181PF material is designed to withstand shocks, impacts and edge loads and can operate at temperatures ranging from -50 C to +90 C.
Depending on the application parameters, igus says its running performance is comparable to or better than the company’s standard PTFE-based iglidur A181 material.
The alternative solid lubricants are dispersed throughout the high-performance plastic, allowing the bearing to operate with low friction without requiring external lubricants. This is intended to reduce the risk of lubricant contamination in hygiene-sensitive food-processing applications.
