Below are factors that may affect a bronze bushing during operations

Bronze alloy selection will always require a compromise. By prioritizing the more important operating factors at the expense of less critical issues, you are able to prolong the service life of every bronze bushing material

Not one single type of bronze alloy can address all factors below, therefore compromise is expected

• Bushing Load
  light, medium, heavy load
• Bushing Speed
  low, medium or high speed
• Acidic or Corrosive Environment
  cement and mining
• Dirty Operating Environment
  agricultural and construction
• Reliability of Lubrication
  continuous or interrupted
• Cleanliness of Lubrication
  contaminated or clean
• Operating Temperature
  high temp or low heat
• Continuous or Intermittent Operation
  on/off or continuous
• Shaft Misalignment
• Vibration Intensity
• Type of Shaft & Hardness
  bronze-to-shaft pairing

For most general maintenance and bronze bushing replacement, Mixed-Film lubrication is still the most commonly used lubrication design

MIXED - FILM LUBRICATION

• Most common method of lubrication
• Grease / oil is used as lubricating agents
• Lubricant is positioned in between bronze bushing and shaft journal to reduce drag and wear
• Partial metal-to-metal contact is expected at some portions
• While the rest operates Hydrodynamically wherein bronze & shaft never makes contact

BOUNDARY LUBRICATION

• Bronze bushing and shaft journal are separated by ultra thin film of grease reducing metal-to-metal contact
• Annual periodic maintenance through hand greasing is needed to replenish lubrication

HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION

• Most ideal lubrication setup since there is no metal-to-metal contact between bronze bushing and shaft
• Only minor contact during the machine’s initial start-up
• Bronze bushing can last through decades with this type of lubrication system
• Requires accurate design and precise measurements amongst all parts involved
• Applied mostly to brand new bushing set-up unless hydrodynamic lubrication is the default design

• Seven (7) bronze alloys to choose from
• Over >500 standard sizes on-stock available on-demand
• Refer to Alloy Selection Chart for technical data and recommended uses