A Review on Sintered Bushings and How They Work

September 29, 2021

A lot of systems take advantage of bushings’ capabilities. Bushings are mechanical elements that allow two system parts to move without getting affected by vibration. They basically minimise the friction between rotating shafts and stationary support members and prevent system damages.

Bushings are mostly shaped in cylindrical form, boasting some flexible materials inside a metallic shell. An internal crush tube may also be present so that bushings can be protected from being crushed. A wide variety of designs and materials can be utilised in generating bushings. One of the most common ways of producing bushings today is through sintering.

Sintering is a process of forming and compacting materials like powder metals, ceramics, plastics, and others through heat or pressure to generate parts and components. Bushings out of this process are popular these days due to the features and benefits they bring.

The Working Principles of Sintered Bushings

Sintered bushings, as previously stated, are generated through the process of sintering. They are often created by pressing metallic or ceramic powders into shape and subsequently curing them under high temperatures. The temperature of the curing process, however, will not melt the powders.

Once the curing process is done, the sintered bushings are expected to boast a coarse-pored structure. And for these bushings to be more effective, they are often impregnated with lubricating oil. The applied lubricating oil to the bushings remains in their pores at room temperature so that it can be effective during high-temperature applications. As the frictional heat increases, the lubricating oil from the bushings escape and distribute itself in the bearings.

During high-speed applications, alternatively, the bushings are expected to form an oil film called a lubricating wedge. This specific element allows the bushings to be decoupled from the contact surfaces of the nearby system components so they could be protected from wear.

Advantages and Uses of Sintered Bushings

Sintered bushings have various advantages that manufacturers can maximise.

One of the advantages of sintered bushings is that they come in a wide array of dimensions and specifications. Their self-lubricating properties likewise make them beneficial for applications that do not want additional processes for lubrication. Sintered bushings can likewise maintain less noise and vibration, which can be pivotal for applications that are sensitive to these elements.

Given the advantages of sintered bushings, they can truly be useful for high-speed operations. They can also be utilised in limited-space and variable-load applications. Systems that are utilised in outdoor and industrial environments can easily maximise the capabilities of sintered bushings.

Obtain Sintered Bushings at PM Distributors

If you want to obtain high-quality sintered bushings for your applications, feel free to call us at PM Distributors. We are a company based in Dandenong South, Victoria, Australia that provides first-class service and bearings for your place of business or establishment. We specialise in providing customised solutions to all our clients.

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