Slide Bearings

Slide Bearings

Slide bearings are a type of bearing that use low-friction materials such as Teflon and graphite for linear movement and weight bearing. Most slide bearings use a “sandwich” design consisting of two plates of low-friction material in between metal backing plates. These are generally attached to a structural steel piece that is able to bear a great deal of weight but would produce too much friction on its own.

Teflon is often used for slide bearings, as it is able to withstand most temperature and pressure combinations that may be exerted on it. If the bearing is subjected to temperatures greater than 400 degrees Fahrenheit, however, graphite is generally suggested instead.

Slide bearings can be attached to a structure in a number of different ways, such as with bolts, industrial adhesives, and welding. If the bearing is welded in place, a “lip” of metal must be included to prevent the welding process from breaking the bond between the low-friction material and the metal plate.

There are many applications that utilize slide bearings. For instance, slide bearings are used for heated pipelines on oil production modules and for slide ways and guide ways of machine tools. They are also used in oil and water transportation, steel fabrications and buildings, industrial plants, and various large, concrete buildings.