CIP Composites are laminated polymer materials made by impregnating textiles with thermoset resins. Solid lubricants are added to the resin to provide evenly dispersed lubrication throughout the material, providing smooth operation.
CIP custom composite wear rings are a superior alternative to commonly used cotton phenolic and glass filled nylon materials. They allow smooth operation and high side loads while protecting the sealing elements and preventing metal to metal contact in hydraulic cylinders. CIP wear rings are preferred where high performance, large diameters and/or high temperatures are required.
CIP Composite wear rings provide manufacturers and servicers alike with solutions to reduce overall maintenance and increase wear life. CIP offers short lead times, reducing the costs associated with equipment downtime and repairs. CIP Composites are manufactured in the United States using only the highest quality materials.
Equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and drill service providers have become highly competitive to secure remaining contracts in order to stay operational during this recent downturn in the industry. Looking for new strategies to succeed in this current market, companies are investigating alternative products and designs to maximize flexibility and efficiencies. Whether in the exploring, drilling, or production of oil, equipment manufacturers are looking for products that provide high levels of performance that will set themselves apart from the competition.
Bearing materials in the oil & gas industry are presented with the most demanding conditions requiring high load capacity in poor environments and sporadic service schedules. Columbia Industrial Products offer CIP Composites to the oil & gas industry as light weight, self-lubricating composite materials that have a long service life. Although commonly used for bearings, wear pads and thrust washers, CIP’s ability to provide large custom size solutions give the oil & gas industry the ability to use our materials in a wide range of applications. CIP Composites are ideal for replacing greased bronze bearings, and can be easily installed by press fitting or freeze fitting with the ability to machine in place.
CIP Composites offer design engineers an attractive, cost effective alternative to the traditional materials used for bushings, bearings, wear pads, and thrust washers, such as bronze or nylon. CIP Composites are only 1/6 the weight of steel, easily machined, have good dimensional stability and do not contain harmful or toxic materials.
CIP offers material selections that provide high load capacity, and dimensional stability in high temp applications, up to 400°F (200°C). Materials such as CIP333 and CIP353 are manufactured with meta-aramid textile for reinforcement, a high-quality vinyl ester resin, and solid lubricants evenly dispersed throughout the entire material.
Industrial applications can be found in many industries and range from hydraulic cylinders to heavy duty equipment. Many industrial applications are in harsh environments including dirt and mud, chemicals, a range of temperatures, and hard to reach locations, making maintenance a challenge. Equipment down time for maintenance and repairs can be detrimental to the industry.
CIP Composites offers solutions for rigorous industrial applications by extending wear life while reducing or eliminating external lubricants and undesired maintenance. As a general guide, CIP Composite bushing materials can replace your current bronze or nylon based wear and bearing materials. Sold in tubes or sheets for easy machining onsite, or custom manufactured with short lead times.
Hydraulic cylinders are the ideal choice for a host of mobile and industrial applications where power and reliability, along with low operating costs are required. Hydraulic (and even pneumatic and electrical actuator) cylinders are handling more demanding applications than in previous years, such as the use of smaller cylinders which force higher and higher operating pressures. Manufacturers and servicers alike depend on quality components to ensure that their finished product meet or exceeds the customer requirements including long service life, affordability, and availability.
In May of 2016, a cruise ship went into dry dock for service which included replacing a broken stabilizer. It was determined that the flap bearings from the OEM for the new fin stabilizer would not work, and needed to be replaced. CIP is known for its 24-hour dry-dock emergency support for replacement bearings. When the call came in CIP answered the request for this urgent delivery and provided the bearings the same day!
Oil leakage and lubricant discharges from marine equipment such as fin stabilizers are causing marine operators to find alternative solutions to previous standard grease and oil systems. Although the EPA has provided accommodations allowing the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL), the better alternative is to replace bearing grease systems altogether with water lubricated materials.
CIP Composite fin stabilizer bearings are water lubricated with the added ability to have axial grooves machined into the bearing, providing better water flow and lubrication. Columbia Industrial Products offer 24 hour emergency support, minimizing dock time. CIP Composites are easily machined onsite and can be freeze fitted or press fitted. Their knowledgeable team can provide technical support for the design calculations for interference and clearance fits for your application.
Gallagher Fluid Seals is a distributor of CIP Composites full product line. CIP Composites are laminated polymer materials made by impregnating textile with thermoset resins. The physical properties of CIP materials make them superior bearing materials. CIP Composites offer design engineers an attractive, cost effective alternative to the traditional material used for bushings, bearings, wear pads, and thrust washers. The following describes the physical characteristics and application factors to replacing bronze bearings with CIP Composites.
CIP Composites have lower coefficients of friction than bronze in both static and dynamic situations. It is common to achieve 50% lower coefficients of friction when transitioning to composites. Bronze bearings pose a risk for metal to metal contact if grease is non-existent or not sufficient to support the shaft, and may develop high break-away torque requirements after prolonged periods of rest. CIP Composites are self-lubricated, minimizing the concerns with lubrication systems, specifically in high load, slow speed, or oscillating applications. CIP Composites eliminate noisy stick-slip problems, extend operating life and reduces wear, making for better operating efficiency.
There can be concerns with moisture absorption for non-metallic materials. Moisture absorption can create swell and expansion of the bearing material and potentially premature failure. Some common plastics in use today have water absorption rates as high as 5-7%, which can lead to bore closure of the bearing and seizing on the shaft. CIP Composites have a negligible absorption of less than 0.1%, and effectively eliminate this concern when moving away from a metallic solution.