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Main 5 iglide® Materials

Five of the most common iglide® materials used in applications

For over 60 years, igus® has been engineering polymer plain bearings designed to solve real-world motion problems — without grease, without maintenance, and without compromise. Our iglide® bearings are made from high-performance tribologically optimized polymers, with solid lubricants embedded directly into the material itself.

Every iglide® material shares a core set of advantages that make them the smart choice for engineers across nearly every industry:

  • Self-lubricating — solid lubricants are integrated into the bearing itself, so no oil or grease is ever required
  • Maintenance-free — no re-lubrication, no service intervals, no downtime
  • Lightweight — significantly lighter than bronze, steel, or sintered metal equivalents
  • Corrosion-resistant — no rust, no seizing
  • Dirt- and dust-tolerant — no grease means no surface for contaminants to stick to
  • Quiet running — polymer construction dampens noise and vibration
  • Cost-effective — lower part cost, plus lower total cost of ownership

While every iglide® material shares those benefits, each one is engineered with a specific set of strengths in mind — whether that's withstanding extreme temperatures, surviving chemical exposure, handling heavy impact loads, or running smoothly at the lowest possible coefficient of friction. With over 50 iglide® materials in the lineup, there's a solution for nearly any application. But the vast majority of bearing challenges can be solved with one of the five "main" iglide® materials below.

Table of Contents

iglide® J

iglide J bearing

iglide J is built for the long haul at low to medium loads, with one of the lowest coefficients of friction across the entire iglide family. Its standout trait is virtually no stick-slip, which makes it especially valuable in slow, precise movements where smooth starts matter as much as smooth running. It also pairs well with a wide range of shaft materials, including softer and harder-to-mate options like hard-anodized aluminum.

  • Over 250 sizes available from stock
  • Very low coefficient of friction in dry operation
  • Extremely low stick-slip tendency
  • Low moisture absorption
  • Vibration-dampening with high chemical resistance

Often used in: automation, printing, beverage production and packaging, aerospace, vending machines

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iglide® G

iglide G bearing

iglide G is our most popular bearing material worldwide, and for good reason. It's the go-to general-purpose option that handles medium to high loads, medium surface speeds, and medium temperatures without breaking a sweat — or your budget. If you're not sure which iglide material is right for your application, G is almost always a safe first answer, which is exactly why it makes up the largest range of standard catalog parts we offer.

  • Over 650 sizes available from stock
  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio
  • High wear resistance, even on a wide range of shaft materials
  • Resistant to dust and dirt
  • Ideal for oscillating and rotational movements

Often used in: agriculture, automotive, construction machinery, machine tools, fitness and sports equipment

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iglide® M250

iglide M250 bearing

iglide M250 is the material to reach for when conditions get rough. Built to absorb impact and dampen vibration, it excels under high edge loads, sudden shocks, and in dirty environments. Its thick-walled, DIN 1850-compliant construction also means dirt can actually embed into the bearing surface to protect the shaft, rather than chewing it up. M250 is also a popular choice for clip bearings, where its toughness and snap-fit-friendly properties give it a strong edge in light-duty assemblies.

  • Over 450 sizes available from stock
  • Excellent vibration dampening
  • Resistant to edge loads and shock/impact
  • Thick-walled per DIN 1850
  • Dirt-embedding for shaft protection

Often used in: agricultural machines, fitness equipment, packaging machines, furniture and industrial design

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iglide® W300

iglide W300 bearing

When the job calls for serious mileage, W300 delivers. Of all the iglide materials, it's the most tolerant of harsh environments and rough shafts, with a very long service life and wear resistance that holds up where other polymer bearings would tap out. Unlike many other materials, W300's coefficient of friction stays consistently low even at higher rotational speeds, so performance doesn't fall off when things heat up or speed up. It's also forgiving on shaft finish — no mirror-smooth requirement, no stick-slip squeak.

  • Over 400 sizes available from stock
  • Exceptional wear resistance, even in harsh environments
  • Low coefficient of friction that holds steady at high speeds
  • Suitable for soft shafts and rough shafts alike
  • Up to 8,702 psi maximum recommended surface pressure

Often used in: automation, printing, woodworking, mechatronics, robotics, test engineering and quality assurance

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iglide® X

iglide X bearing

iglide X is what we reach for when conditions push past what any other iglide material can handle. It combines extreme temperature resistance (continuous operation from -148°F to +482°F), high compressive strength up to 21,756 psi, and broad chemical resistance — including resistance to strong alkalines. It's designed for higher speeds than other iglide bearings, has the lowest moisture absorption of the main five, and is one of the very few polymer bearing materials that can actually be used in a vacuum. It's also the iglide bearing of choice in aircraft interiors, thanks to its compliance with FAA fire prevention requirements.

  • Continuous operating temperature from -148°F to +482°F
  • Compressive strength up to 21,756 psi
  • Extremely high chemical resistance
  • Very low moisture absorption
  • Suitable for vacuum applications

Often used in: beverage production and packaging, woodworking, plastics processing, aerospace, cleanrooms

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