VESCONITE IN EXTREME COLD

Engineers will be pleased to know that Vesconite can cope with some of the coldest temperatures experienced worldwide… even down to -40°C! This means that Vesconite bearings can survive in many of the coldest places. Engineers designing for cold environments should consider possible minimum temperatures, and design press fits and clearances accordingly ... and this can be done in seconds at vesconite.com/design.

IMPACT RESISTANCE IN COLD CONDITIONS

Vesconite does not become brittle in cold temperatures, as laboratory testing and the experience of customers attests. Data on impact strength shows that impact strength declines slightly between 20°C (68°F) and 0°C (32°F), but thereafter is unaffected down to -30°C (-22°F)

LUBRICATION, CONDENSATION AND INTERMITTENT COLD APPLICATIONS

Metal wear components and bearings often do not perform well where handling equipment moves frequently between cold and ambient temperatures. Condensation occurs that can wash away grease and lead to components rusting. For cold conditions, metal components usually require special greases, and these may be costly.

Vesconite in most applications does not need greasing. This is the case for cold applications too. Since Vesconite is self-lubricating, it is not impacted by the washout of grease caused by condensation.

CONSISTENT COLD APPLICATIONS

Vesconite bearing materials are continually exposed to cold in some applications.

Vesconite, for instance, is used in snow throwers in the United States, where Vesconite is the material of choice for the freezing, dirty conditions in which these agile, trackless blowers work seasonally.

INTERMITTENT COLD APPLICATIONS

Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube have been used in marine bearings for more than 30 years, and faired well at low sea temperatures and even lower air temperatures, which on-deck equipment may be exposed to.

Vesconite also performs well pumping liquid butane, which boils at -1°C (30°F). Manufacturers of butane transfer equipment have used Vesconite in pumps and valves for over 30 years. Vesconite does not degrade or become brittle at this gas’s boiling point or at its typical liquid-phase temperature.

In addition, Vesconite gives long life in food-processing. Trolleys on which Vesconite Hilube has been installed as the wheel bearings move frequently between cold-storage areas at -40 to -30ºC (-40 to -20ºF) to ambient temperature areas of the plant, which are around 20ºC (70ºF). These Vesconite Hilube bearings carry heavy loads yet they do not crack or disintegrate, thus avoiding wheel replacements and floor damage.

Similar effects have been found in forklifts and other materials-handling equipment in food processing plants and cold storage warehouses. Vesconite wear components coped well even where temperatures fluctuated widely during operation. Applications include axle bearings and thrust washers, mast bushings and forklift slides.