Better than Bronze

is a proven material for use as bearings on ships’ rudders and a popular alternative to bronze.

“Though Orkot® TLM Marine is well-established and a leading composite option in marine applications, we wanted to prove once and for all that it was a suitable and superior
replacement for bronze bearings, especially when not lubricated,” says Shanul Haque, Products and Innovations Manager at the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions facility in Rotherham, England, where Orkot® materials are fabricated.

Tests destroy bronze bearing

Tests were undertaken in water with no lubrication with continuous shaft motion for a targeted length of 100 hours. Shanul continues, “The results undisputedly showed the supremacy of Orkot® TLM Marine as a bearing material in rudder applications without lubrication. The bearing in RG12 bronze was completely worn away after just 20.4 hours.”
The Orkot® composite bearing demonstrated lower friction with less stress on adjoining hardware, which means lower wear and longer product life. It also produced an even, consistent wear surface due to the compliant nature of the material.

The bronze bearing, being harder, had uneven edge loading causing high wear and surface break down.

“Orkot® TLM Marine offers real benefits to ship operators. The extended life of Orkot® over bronze bearings means a longer interval between planned maintenance, significantly  reducing total cost of ownership for the ship operators. The bearings are also easy to install with alignment to the shaft being less critical to avoid edge loading.

“And importantly, as the composite bearings so successfully operate in non-lubricated conditions, they are better for the environment and fish-friendly,” concludes Shanul.