Avoid harmful substances

Igus' material developers have succeeded in producing the established polymer plain bearings of the iglidur G, iglidur X, and iglidur H series, which are used worldwide in machines, systems, and vehicles, without PTFE. This is good news for many companies that are already looking for future-proof alternatives due to the prospect of stricter PFAS regulations or even a ban.

At Igus in Cologne, intensive research and testing has been carried out in-house in recent years. The focus: plain bearings from the standard series with PTFE. "We have succeeded in developing a PTFE-free version for the material of the iglidur G series," explains a delighted Lars Butenschön, Head of the iglidur Plain Bearing Technology Division at Igus. This is particularly pleasing because iglidur G is a widely used all-rounder in the Igus product range, which, due to its high wear resistance and low friction, is required worldwide in mechanical engineering, plant engineering, and the automotive industry.

Achieving this versatility without PTFE required considerable development effort.

Thanks to the clever formulation design, the known material properties in terms of temperature stability, mechanical strength, and shrinkage behavior remained virtually unchanged, as confirmed by tests in the in-house 4,000-square-meter test laboratory. This is where igus's more than 60 years of experience with tribologically optimized plastics pays off.
Switching to PTFE-free polymer bearings is possible without any problems and without adjustments.

But that's not all. The iglidur X series, which is used in the aerospace industry, among others, due to its high temperature resistance, is now also PTFE-free. The same applies to iglidur H, a series whose high moisture resistance makes it suitable for the shipping industry and chemical engineering, among others. By 2024, igus had already succeeded in eliminating PTFE from the equally popular iglidur J and iglidur W series. "We have now found PTFE-free alternatives for the top 5 iglidur bearing materials, which cover 80 percent of all iglidur applications worldwide," says Lars Butenschön. A large number of potential users therefore have less to worry about future PFAS regulations. They can switch directly to the new variants without having to invest in modifications. "The price is almost identical in most cases."

"Many of our customers are currently unsettled by the prospect of stricter PFAS regulations."

The breakthrough by the igus developers is significant because the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently considering a possible ban on the PFAS group of chemicals – for reasons of environmental and health protection. These changes represent a huge change for companies. PFAS, due to their water-, grease-, and dirt-repellent properties, are found in hundreds of thousands of products – for example, in rain jackets, coated pans, and fast-food packaging. Igus also uses PTFE, a member of the PFAS family, for the self-lubricating effect of its polymer bearings.

"Many of our customers are currently searching for solutions in light of the prospect of stricter PFAS regulations or even a ban," says Lars Butenschön. "They are therefore already looking for PTFE-free bearings to ensure their products remain safe in the future." Igus is therefore investing heavily in research and development to find PFAS alternatives.