Vesconite's Hitemp 160 - Innovative New High Temperature Bearing Material
A pump containing three sleeve bearings made from a new bearing material, Hitemp 160 − which can operate to temperatures up to 160°C (320°F) and is resistant to abrasive material − has been tested in a pump that has received South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) certification.
Vesconite Bearings pump applications specialist Phillip de Villiers informs that the pump as a whole, rather than its novel bearings, were the subject of the testing procedure carried out by the SABS, the institution responsible for the promotion and maintenance of standards within South Africa.
The pump is part of a range of large vertical spindle suction pumps that are to be primarily used in the mining industry.
Because of the pump's new design, its importance in the mines that depend on it, and the quality-assurance requirements of the manufacturer/purchaser, certification that the pump was safe and fit for usability was imperative for all involved in the daily operation.
Thus far, the pump and bearings have proven to operate well under the conditions specified. “The pump manufacturer tested and later concluded Vesconite's proprietary Hitemp 160 material, which has excellent abrasive properties, negligible water swell, and allows the pump to run dry periodically, is working well under the conditions encountered in the mine.” states De Villiers.
“Having a material that could aid in the pump’s need to run dry occasionally for short periods of time was a priority, and the Hitemp 160 material could serve that need in this specific application,” he says.
Filling a Gap in the Market for High-Temperature Bearings
The new material fills a gap in the market for high-temperature bearings that are able to operate to 160°C in immersed conditions.
The original article can be found on Vesconite's website here.
Gallagher Fluid Seals is an authorized distributor of Vesconite bushings and bearings. For more information about Hitemp 160, please contact us today.