iglidur HSD350: New high-performance plastic for continuous use in hot steam

The material iglidur HSD350 is the new all-rounder for use in hot steam sterilization: cost-effective, corrosion-free, and maintenance-free. (Source: igus GmbH)

With iglidur HSD350, the motion plastics specialist now offers an affordable all-rounder for hot steam sterilization during autoclaving. Especially in the food and medical industries, the new sliding bearing material demonstrates its advantages over metallic bearings clearly.

Autoclaving is one of the most important sterilization procedures in the production of food and pharmaceuticals or when cleaning medical products. The standard process involves heating in a pressure vessel to 121°C at 2 bar for 15 to 20 minutes, or 134°C for 2 to 3 minutes at 3 bar steam pressure for particularly resistant germs. This presents a challenge for the machine components, including the bearings. Often, a special autoclave-compatible lubrication is necessary for metallic bearings. However, the use of grease can impair sterilization to such an extent that its effectiveness is significantly reduced. As a maintenance-free and lubrication-free alternative, polymer bearings are offered, whose materials are especially resistant to heat, pressure, and moisture.

As standard and as a custom part

A versatile product from this igus range is iglidur HSD350, suitable for hygienic continuous operation even with regular sterilization. The new material withstands temperatures up to 180°C permanently and briefly up to 210°C. Thanks to its corrosion resistance, iglidur HSD350 is ideal for use in wet environments and exhibits low moisture absorption and minimal thermal expansion. The new material is also highly resistant to media and tear-proof even during hot steam sterilization. Cylindrical and with a flange, available in six sizes, the RoHS-compliant material can be used as a sliding bearing or as semi-finished product for custom special shapes. This allows customers to design bearing points and joints in such a way that optimal cleaning results can be achieved in more complex, inseparable units. iglidur HSD350 is now available from a single piece and can be shipped directly from stock within 24 hours.