VESCONITE REDUCES NOISE POLLUTION
Many who want to reduce noise prefer Vesconite materials, particularly Vesconite Hilube and Vesconite Superlube. These Vesconite materials exhibit low squeal, vibration and noise because of their low friction, small clearances and no slip stick.
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LOW FRICTION
Vesconite bearing materials have unusually low co-efficients of friction so there is little squeal when using Vesconite:-
- Vesconite has a co-efficient of friction of 0.12 – 0.15 running dry on stainless steel;
- Vesconite Hilube has a co-efficient of friction of 0.08 – 0.12 running dry on stainless steel; andÂ
- Vesconite Superlube has a co-efficient of friction of 0.05 – 0.08 running dry on stainless steel.Â
MANY INDUSTRIES HAVE FOUND THIS USEFUL
- For the marine environment, “ship quieting” technologies, applied to the propeller, and the ship’s machinery and equipment, benefits marine animals as well as ship crews and recreational boaters. Vesconite Bearings has had numerous requests for its squeal-free stern tube bearings, rudder bearings and other on-deck equipment.
- Vesconite has had success with its bearings used in agricultural plants, where farmworkers and animals need to be protected from continuous noise. Examples are a hitching solution and a carrot sorting machine.
- Several clients reported less noise when Vesconite was employed on the wheels of their household gates. These gates had disturbed households and neighbours, particularly at night, and the noise has reportedly not been as noticeable with Vesconite employed.
- Rail clients report reduced squeal and noise when employing Vesconite bearing materials. This is particularly true for Vesconite’s bogie load pads. On one heavy haul goods line, high axle load locomotive bogie wheelsets could return to their correct position after swivelling out of line in crossing loops. The reduction of the loud squeal caused by the bogies attempting to return to their correct positions was an important reason for the introduction of Vesconite Superlube load pads in the application.
REDUCED SLIP STICK
Slip stick occurs when the static co-efficient of friction is higher than the dynamic co-efficient of friction. This results in the shaft having a jerky motion. The jerky motion, often with an associated sound, is common in applications with intermittent motion, including rudders, actuators, linear bearings, valves, crushers and oscillating bearings.
Our clients have had a significant reduction in the noise associated with slip stick when they have installed our bearing materials. Vesconite Hilube and Vesconite Superlube, in particular, have excellent stiction characteristics, since their co-efficients of static friction are lower than their co-efficients of dynamic friction.
Reducing slip stick, and the sound linked to this phenomenon, are particularly important for 3D printer enthusiasts. This is because of the frequent changes in direction of the printer bearings that can result in a significant amount of noise. Hobby and semi-professional printer enthusiasts will sometimes have multiple printers running for several weeks inside their homes, and find that Vesconite Hilube and Vesconite Superlube 3D printer bushings significantly reduce the noise levels, allowing them to sleep more easily.
SMALL CLEARANCES AND LESS VIBRATION
Because Vesconite does not swell or distort, Vesconite bearings can be machined with small clearances. This considerably reduces vibration and associated noise, since there is much less play between the bearing and its housing.
The vibration reduction is particularly important for marine customers, who frequently cite this as a factor when switching to Vesconite. This is true for various performance sailboat owners who choose Vesconite propeller shaft bearings.
WHY BEARING NOISE IS IMPORTANT
The problems associated with noise and proper physiological functioning has been well established.
For humans, exposure to loud noise has been linked to stress, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances and heart disease. Thus, bearing choice is important when considering the health and safety of people.
Noise can also be hazardous for animals. Farmers have long known that animal reproduction and milk production are affected by exposure to noise, so reducing noise can make their farms more sustainable and livestock less agitated.
Depending on the species, and the noise’s frequency, loudness, etc., various other physiological conditions have been noted in animals, including increased blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol levels, cholesterol levels and respiratory rate. For marine animals, besides physiological disturbances, there may be behavioural responses to avoid noise, including ascents that are too rapid and spending too much time on the surface. These factors make the choice of bearing important for those who are concerned with the environmental impact of human activities in marine and other environments with wildlife.
VESCONITE NOISE REDUCTION CASE STUDIES
