Regulatory-Compliant Polymer Bearings for Food Processing Machinery

igus has released iglidur A181PF, a new plain bearing material developed without polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and bisphenol A (BPA) for food processing machinery. This tribological solution provides engineers with a mechanically robust alternative that preemptively addresses tightening chemical restrictions within food contact materials.

Regulatory Drivers in Food Contact Materials
Selecting plain bearings for food processing machinery requires navigating increasingly strict regulatory frameworks regarding chemical composition. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is evaluating restrictions on synthetic polymers in the PFAS group, which includes PTFE. Furthermore, EU Regulation 2024/3190 imposes strict limitations on the use of bisphenol A and related substances in materials intended for food contact. To provide long-term regulatory certainty, the iglidur A181PF material eliminates both PTFE and bisphenols while maintaining necessary operational hygiene and functionality for components such as gears, swing arms, and augers.

Tribological Engineering and Thermal Specifications
Historically, PTFE has been integral to plain bearings due to its low coefficient of friction and dry-running capabilities. Formulating an alternative required re-engineering the tribological profile using a different mixture of solid lubricants embedded within an optimized polymer matrix. The resulting material operates reliably across a temperature range of -50°C to +90°C and withstands impacts and edge loads. In internal laboratory rotation tests conducted on a steel shaft at a speed of 0.3 m/s under a 1 MPa load, the PTFE-free bearing demonstrated a wear rate of 0.57 µm/km. According to Magnus Orth, head of the igus Materials Center, developing this solution required a complete rethinking of tribological specifications to achieve a robust profile that complies with emerging food safety regulations.

Moisture Absorption and Chemical Resistance
In food manufacturing applications, components must withstand frequent exposure to harsh process fluids and cleaning agents. The finely dispersed alternative solid lubricants enable continuous low-friction dry running, which minimizes contamination risks by eliminating the need for external lubrication. The material exhibits low moisture absorption, permitting installation with minimal dimensional play. These structural characteristics ensure that the bearing complies with both FDA regulations and EU Regulation 10/2011 for hygienic operation.

Additional Context
This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original news release.

In the industrial plain bearing sector, food-grade polymer components are typically benchmarked against metal-polymer composite bearings from manufacturers such as SKF and GGB Bearing Technology. A standard competitive baseline is the POM-composite metal-polymer bearing (such as the SKF POM composite series or GGB DX series), which often requires initial food-grade lubrication to maintain low friction and prevent wear on steel shafts. In contrast, the iglidur A181PF utilizes an engineered polymer matrix with embedded solid lubricants, eliminating the need for initial or continuous external lubrication.

Furthermore, while traditional maintenance-free competitors rely heavily on PTFE composites to achieve a low coefficient of friction, these materials are increasingly subject to PFAS regulatory restrictions. By replacing PTFE while maintaining a continuous operating temperature limit of +90°C and demonstrating a rotational wear rate of just 0.57 µm/km at 1 MPa, the A181PF provides a regulatory-compliant alternative. This allows it to match the mechanical and thermal performance of established PTFE-based benchmarks without the associated chemical compliance risks.

Edited by Aishwarya Mambet, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.

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