Ask any engineer to describe the ideal material for bearings used in problem environments. What would he say? Most likely, he would tell you that the ideal material would have these characteristics:
The ONLY True Corrosion Resistant Structural Composite Bearings:
Systems are not always perfect. And when a lubricating system fails, damage to a rotating element can be extensive. That means lost time and money. But having Simsite® Bearings working for you can save your equipment from significant damage. Simsite® Bearings have self-lubricating characteristics, which prevent the bearings from galling, or seizing on the shaft even when lubrication fails. This has saved the life of many rotating elements.
Simsite® Bearings are superior to other guide bearings because they have superior mechanical properties, which offer rigidity to the rotating element as well as an unusually low coefficient of friction. The superior lubricating qualities of graphite are imbedded throughout the Simsite® composite.
Simsite® Bearings can withstand extremely high flash temperatures up to 1000 Degrees F., and continuous running temperatures from 300 Degrees F. with standard Simsite® and up to 400 Degrees F. with a high-temperature grade of Simsite®. Unlike plastic, elastomer, or rubber bearings, Simsite® Bearings will not melt, crack, break, get spongy or soft, or seize when exposed to high temperatures. Most bearing materials will not tolerate flash temperatures and will literally melt on the shaft in the event of any dry running.
Simsite® Bearings have an extremely low coefficient of friction, because they have graphite embedded throughout the composite, which acts as a lubricant. When lubricated by water, oil, or grease, Simsite® is ideal as a guide bearing, rudder bearing, stern tube bearing, stave, stabilizing bearing or oil-seal bearing. The chart at the right compares the low friction characteristics of Simsite® compared to other bearing materials.
The unusually high mechanical strength of Simsite® offers many advantages over conventional bearings. They are precision machined from solid blocks of Simsite® structural engineered composite rather than cast, poured, or molded. Because the reinforcing fibers are never chopped, cut or ground, the Simsite® Bearing has greater shear, bond, flexural, and tensile strength than other composite bearing materials. Simsite®’s outstanding mechanical properties enable the bearing to withstand higher loads and torque requirements. Unlike bearings of carbon, or pressed graphite, the Simsite® Bearing will not crack, melt, or break under load. Compare Simsite®’s superior tensile strength with other bearing materials shown in the chart at right:
Because Simsite® Bearings are inert, electrolysis is greatly reduced when the bearings are used. Simsite® Bearings seal against the casing, or the bearing housing, preventing leakage behind the bearing, and eliminating the damage of corrosion and erosion. This is critical because it insures that the shaft will be secured properly reducing the risk of damage to the entire rotating element.
Because Simsite® Bearings hold the shaft more securely than conventional bearings, radial movement in the shaft is reduced. This increases the life span of the entire rotating element.
When you combine a Simsite® Impeller and casing rings with a Simsite® Guide Bearing the length-to-diameter (L/D) of the rotating element is reduced. The stability of the rotating element is therefore improved because of the lower mass. This lower mass (approximately 1/6 the weight of bronze) accounts for its excellent PV characteristics as is illustrated by the chart to the right:
Simsite® High Performance Bearings Simsite® is the name of a range of high quality, high performance structural composite guide bearings. Simsite® bearings are uniquely different from any other bearing material on the market because they are STRUCTURAL. They will NOT MELT, or ERRODE like thermoplastic, or rubber bearings.
Simsite® bearings will not break down under SAND & SILT ATTACK. They are significantly superior to other guide bearings, because they are a structural composite offering rigidity to the rotating element as well as self- lubricating qualities without galling or seizing on the shaft. Simsite® bearings are precision machined, which insures maximum longevity because the LOAD OF THE SHAFT IS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED over the length of the bearing.
Unlike rubber, or thermoplastic bearings, Simsite® bearings are made from structural graphite fibers, which are much harder and much more durable then rubber, elastomer, or plastic. The fibers in the Simsite® bearings are interwoven in a tri-dimensional weave giving the bearing tremendous strength and rigidity. The strength and rigidity enable the Simsite® bearings to hold up much better against sand, silt, or barnacle erosion.
Simsite® bearings have an extremely low coefficient of friction, because they have loose graphite and other lubricants embedded throughout the structural engineered composite, which gives the bearings self-lubricating characteristics. When lubricated by water, oil, or grease, Simsite® Bearings are ideal for use as pump shaft guide bearings, rudder bearings, stern tube bearings, oil seal bearings, and stabilizing bearings/bushings.
In the event that lubrication is suddenly cut off from the bearings, Simsite® bearings will not melt or seize on the shaft like babbitt, bronze, plastic, or elastomer bearings. Simsite® bearings can withstand dry running for a period of time before the clearances will start to open up, but the bearings will never completely fail. This has saved the life of many rotating elements.
Since Simsite® is basically an inert composite, electrolysis is greatly reduced. Additionally, Simsite® bearings seal against the casing or bearing housings which prevents leakage and therefore eliminates corrosion and erosion damage. This is critical because it insures that the bearings will be secured properly in the casing or housing, eliminating the risk of severe damage to the entire rotating element.
The unusually high mechanical strength gives Simsite® bearings many advantages over conventional bearings. Simsite® bearings are not poured or molded, rather, they are structural precision machined from a solid bar of Simsite® material. Because the fibers in Simsite® are not chopped up or cut, Simsite® bearings have a much higher shear strength, bond strength, flexural strength, and tensile strength. Simsite® bearings will not crack or break like carbon bearings. The high mechanical properties enable the bearings to withstand higher loads and torque requirements.
Simsite® bearings can withstand extremely high flash temperatures (1000 Deg. F.) and continuous running temperatures of 300 degrees F with our SMS-300 Grade Simsite® and 400 degrees F with our high temperature SMS-400 Simsite® composite. Because of this unique quality Simsite® will not melt, get spongy or soft, or seize on the shaft. Other bearing materials such as thermoplastics, rubber and elastomers cannot take flash temperatures and will literally melt on the shaft if they see and dry running at all.
Wear problems can be overcome by installing Simsite® bearings. Simsite® bearings have loose graphite as well as other lubricants which substantially reduces frictional wear on the shaft. Additionally, the structural fibers in Simsite® offer extremely high anti-galling characteristics. The highly polished surface finish of Simsite® bearings reduces unnecessary wear on the shaft as well as the bearings.
