What are self-lubricating plastics?

Self-lubricating plastics from igus® are made from tribologically-optimized polymer blends. Tribology is an area of study that deals with the design, friction, wear and lubrication of interacting surfaces in relative motion. Our engineered polymer blends are comprised of base materials for wear resistance, reinforcing fibers for high forces, and solid lubricants that eliminate the need for external oil and grease. igus® engineers rigorously test our self-lubricating plastics inside our 41,000-square-foot lab at our headquarters in Cologne, Germany to ensure each material lasts longer and performs better than metal. In addition to being self-lubricating, our tribologically-optimized polymer blends are maintenance-free, lighter than metal, and resistant to dirt, dust and chemicals.