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.

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Our uniquely designed self-lubricating plastics are comprised of:

  • Base polymers primarily responsible for wear resistance, high loads, etc.
  • Reinforcing fibers that make our products ideal for high forces and edge loads
  • Solid lubricants blended into each material

Interested in configuring the service life of an iglide® bearing or bushing in your application?  Use the service life calculator below.

Use the iglide® service life calculator

Always tested. Always proven. Always igus®.
Every year, igus® engineers conduct more than 5,000 tests under real-world conditions inside our 41,000-square-foot test lab to ensure each self-lubricating material lasts longer and performs better than metal components. They also develop more than 100 new plastic compounds and polymer blends every year. Watch the video or click the button below to learn more about our test lab.

Predictable service life
igus® engineers conduct more than 7,000 tests inside the igus® R&D center to analyze the tribological properties of our polymer blends. The test results are compiled into an extensive online database, which engineers can use to find suitable materials for their applications and discover how many hours those materials are expected to last.

oil consumption

Comparison of oil used for Plastic vs. Steel/Aluminum: To produce 1 liter of aluminum the energy from 15 liters of oil is necessary. 1 liter of steel requires 11 liters of oil. The production of 1 liter of plastic only needs an average of 1.8 - 2.3 liters oil.*

e-chain cable carriers

e-chain® cable carriers

Plastic e-chain®'s reduce downtime & increase cable service life. Use our tools to configure a system with your specifications for any application, with installation and inspection services available as well.

Learn more about e-chains®
iglide bearings

iglide® bearings and bushings

iglide® self-lubricating bearings extend service life & reduce costs by up to 40%. They are maintenance-free, universally applicable and ressitance to a wide range of extreme conditions and chemicals.

Learn about iglide® bearings
drylin® linear bearings & slides

drylin® linear bearings & slides

drylin® linear technology is maintenance-free & low-cost. Unlike re-circulating rolling ball bearing guides, drylin® linear bearings & assemblies are self-lubricating and engineered to slide.

Learn more about drylin®
chainflex tile

chainflex® cables

chainflex® flexible cables are designed for industrial motion applications. They are available from stock in any quantity with no minimum length requirement, and have an up-to 4 year guarantee.

Learn more about chainflex® cables