Tribopolymer bearings FAA-approved for aircraft interiors

Lightweight, quiet and fail-safe – these are some of the key criteria for aviation components. For aircraft interiors, these components also require compliance with strict fire safety standards. The plain bearing materials iglidur G V0, iglidur X, iglidur A350, iglidur H and iglidur J350 have now been positively tested by an independent test institute in accordance with fire test FAR CS 25.853 App F, Part 1a 1 (ii).

The five plain bearing materials are also rated V0 according to UL94, making them the optimal solution for moving applications in aircraft, for example in fold-out tables, adjustable seats or also in hinges of doors and luggage compartments. With these five materials, designers of interior equipment in aircraft have the suitable iglidur materials for all plain bearing applications: the cost-effective all-rounder iglidur G V0, the FDA-compliant iglidur A350, the iglidur J350 and iglidur H with exceptionally low moisture absorption all the way to iglidur X, the high tech problem solver.

Like all igus products, iglidur plain bearings operate completely without external lubrication. Instead, solid lubricants homogeneously embedded in the material ensure silent and smooth operation. This gives users several advantages - first, they save elaborate maintenance work and costs through regular re-lubrication, second there is no additional effort during assembly and, third, the components always remain clean, which is an important criterion particularly in aircraft interiors.

Compared to metallic alternatives, igus iglidur bearings are up to seven times lighter, which is crucial in the aerospace industry, where every kilogramme saved pays off directly in the aircraft’s flight range or efficiency. Last but not least, they are cheaper than metal bearings and also corrosion-free. In contrast to metal bearings, they are more flexible, which not only simplifies assembly and helps to minimise noise, but also makes the bearings insensitive to impact and edge loads. A big advantage especially in applications such as folding tables on aircraft seats.

With the high-performance plastics from igus, savings are three fold: in weight, maintenance and price. In addition, within 50 materials users can find a comprehensive solution using numerous materials that meet the various legal and industry-specific regulations. Whether FDA and EU-compliance for the food industry, for drinking water contact or even general and industry-specific fire protection standards such as for aircraft or railway technology, engineers will always find the right igus bearing.