GGB tribological solutions move the industrial world one step closer to the future. Our products are used in tens of thousands of critical applications every day—around the planet. Our goal is to provide reliable, maintenance-free surface solutions for almost any application—no matter where those demands take our products.
GGB's diverse polymer coating solutions encompass some of the most state-of-the-art coating technologies available. Our TriboShield® product line includes seven standard formulations that cover the full spectrum of mechanical, thermal and chemical capabilities offered by today's coating materials. They can also be applied to nearly any surface, regardless of shape or material, making their potential almost endless. And when it comes to working with and enhancing the performance of your existing bearing and polymer coatings solutions, our TriboMate® product line is specifically designed to be paired up— all leading to enhanced performance.
The excellent low friction and high wear resistance performance of GGB metal-polymer bearings make them ideal for hundreds of applications in numerous and diverse industries. Depending upon application requirements, metal-polymer composite bearings can be produced in many shapes and sizes.
GGB's Engineered Plastic Polymer bearings provide excellent wear resistance and low friction in both dry and lubricated operating conditions over a wide range of applications. Engineered plastic bearings are made from thermoplastic bearing material processed by injection moulding. This production method enables us to produce unlimited dimensions in accordance to our standard, and also parts with special designs and features.
GGB's Fiber Reinforced Composite products typically consists of a filament-wound, fiberglass-impregnated, epoxy backing with a variety of low-friction wear-resistant bearing linings. These self-lubricating fiber reinforced composite bearings are particularly effective in applications where the relative motion is not sufficient to promote circulation of the oil or grease used with more conventional bearings. GGB Fiber Reinforced Composite bearings are available as bushes, plates, bearing segments and special forms, depending on the particular material type.
Bimetal and metal bearings offer excellent corrosion resistance in industrial outdoor applications and in water, marine and offshore environments. GGB offers a broad range of sizes, forms and materials in monometallic and bimetallic bearings.
Engineered as a solution to conquer misalignment reduction when high demands are placed on bearings, GGB's UNI, MINI and EXALIGN® self-aligning shaft bearing assemblies offer improved equipment performance under standard bearing assemblies by reducing stress and friction. Offering superior performance in a wide variety of applications, GGB's self-aligning assemblies are available in both standard and custom configurations.
GGB has been putting the world in motion for over 120 years with industry-leading tribological bearings, coatings and assemblies. From Polymer Coatings and Metal-Polymer bearings to Fiber Reinforced Composite bearings and self-aligning shaft bearing assemblies, our solutions are specifically designed to reduce friction and optimize performance and durability.
Tribology is the science of wear, friction and lubrication, and encompasses how interacting surfaces and other tribo-elements behave in relative motion in natural and artificial systems. This includes bearing design and lubrication.
GGB’s TriboU is intended to provide the working engineer, who may or may not be a user of GGB’s surface engineered solutions, to understand and implement basic tribological concepts in the design, manufacture and use of industrial equipment.
At GGB, we aren’t afraid to take risks for our customers. We are passionate about the work we do and believe that same passion contributes to the level of innovation that can enhance human potential. We take pride in working closely with customers in the early stage of a design to think broadly and boldly, and to expand beyond traditional surface engineered solutions. We offer reliable partnerships based on trust, compassion, determination, collaboration and respect.
GGB seeks out collaborative, long-term relationships with each one of our customers. Our diverse expertise gives us a deep understanding of the challenges you face. When you partner with us early, our GGB engineering team is able to review your assemblies and make sure both the bearing and surrounding components are optimized for performance and cost-effectiveness.
Not all Coatings are created equal
Equipment manufacturers are facing greater demand to deliver faster than ever reliable parts that meet higher performance expectations. Advances in polymer engineering during the past decade mean that tribo-coatings can now offer a means to achieve a product´s goals, helping to improve performance through reduced friction, increased wear life, reduced system noise and improved corrosion resistance. It is possible to do all this while reducing system costs.
Polymer coatings are thin layers of polymer applied to either flat or irregular substrates. Polymeric coatings can be functional, protective or decorative. They are also used to modify surfaces (paper coatings, hydrophobic coatings). Although polymeric coatings are mostly organic, they can also include ceramic or metal particles to increase durability, functionality, or aesthetics [1].
Applications often require a combination of bulk and surface properties at different locations, timing and in a function of the circumstances. Polymer coatings are often used to modify the substrate surface properties and enhance their performance. Therefore, coatings have become a key branch of the tribological materials science.
[1] Francis, L. F., & Roberts, C. C. (2016). Chapter 6-Dispersion and Solution Processes. Materials Processing.
The majority of polymeric coatings are thermoplastic polymers. With the thermoplastic polymers, the individual macromolecules of polymer are entangled but still largely independent from each other. Therefore, thermoplastic coatings featuring high flexibility, good elongation capability and high impact resistance but lower scratch resistance. They provide excellent corrosion protection.
Some of the most advanced polymer coatings are thermosets. They are infinite three-dimensional networks of covalently interconnected macromolecules of polymers. This three-dimensional network offers excellent resistance of polymer layers to solvents, chemicals, and mechanical stress. Their high hardness enable them to be extremely resistant against scratches and wear.
Thermoset coatings are applied as liquids on a substrate and start with short molecules which are cross-linked together during the curing at a given temperature to form a permanent three-dimensional network on an irreversible chemical reaction. This need for curing is inevitably reflected in the choices of substrate material.
The term polymer coating suggests that such a coating comprises predominantly polymers. However, coatings formulations are composed of organic and inorganic ingredients: binders, fillers (or pigments), additives, and solvents [2].
[2] Gijsbertus de With, (2018). Polymer coatings: A guide to chemistry, characterization, and selected applications, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co., ISBN 978-3-527-80633-1
The coating system selection does depend on a large set of considerations and is obviously application dependant. That is the reason why we encourage you to fill out the contact form, so our Applications Engineering team can work with you in determining what the best solution should be.
GGB is capable of coating parts from as little as a few millimeters in dimension to a maximum part size of 5 m x 2.5 m x 2.5 m (16.5 ft x 8.25 ft x 8.25 ft). However, geometry complexity may place some restrictions.
Depending on the coating selected, curing temperatures can range from room temperature to a maximum of 420°C. For those subjected to higher curing temperatures, consideration should be given to the potential annealing effect on the substrate.
Coatings can be applied to specific areas of a part by means of either masking the surfaces where the coating is not permitted or using those areas as sacrificial handling points during the manufacturing process. However, coating the entire component will provide the advantage of full protection against corrosion and chemical attack and, in most cases, not be more expensive.
The surface finish requirements for a components to be coated is considerably more relaxed than traditional surface specifications for tribological components, thus potentially providing cost savings for the customer. The surfaces prior to coating can accept a roughness up to 1.6Ra since the coating process integrates a surface modification step to ensure optimum adhesion.
The thickness will depend greatly on the type of coating being applied, its composition, application process and final intended use. In general, the target thickness will be around 10 µm to 35 µm but coatings can be as thick as 300 µm.
There is no limit to the depth that the coating can be applied to, but there is a limitation on the aspect ratio of said hole/recess. The general guideline is that up to a hole diameter of 50 mm, we can control the coating thickness if the depth/diameter ratio is no higher than 3. If the hole/recess has an opening larger than 50 mm, then special spraying tools can be used to reach its entire length and deposit a controlled coating thickness.
A tribological performance coating can be applied to most substrates, including but not limited to metals, polymers and composites, regardless of shape or form. The coating feasibility is driven by the substrate thermal and chemical properties as it needs to survive the application and curing process.
Coatings are specifically designed to reduce friction between interacting surfaces in relative motion. TriboShield® coatings are self lubricating, and thus specifically designed for low friction and good wear resistance.
For specific applications, GGB is also able to formulate high friction coatings still keeping the low wear rate as a key property of the coating.
We have a range of coatings which are FDA compliant. The actual approval is granted for each specific use and needs a specific certification process to be performed by a third party laboratory.
The difference in weight between coating & bearing is negligible so should we not emphasise the fact that it can be applied directly onto light weight materials such as aluminium, magnesium or titanium.
In many cases, the coatings are applied directly to the customers component, eliminating the need of assembling and simplifying the bill of materials. The component to be coated does not require fine machining, and a roughness of 1.6 μm Ra can be specified. In addition, the usual hardening and/or polishing of the surfaces can also be eliminated.
Polymers generally provide an effective barrier to corrosion or chemical attack. By coating the full part, the coating can potentially satisfy both your tribological and chemical resistance needs. The dampening characteristics of polymer coatings can also help reduce noise, vibration and hardness leading to quieter operation.
Although solvents are used to help process coatings, the GGB polymer coatings in their finished applied form are non toxic. GGB purposely develops its formulations with safety in mind avoiding the use of prohibited or legislatively controlled substances. In fact, some of GGB coatings, TS421 and TS651 for example, are FDA compliant and therefore can safely be used in contact with food.
Coatings exist in organic and inorganic form with the most common industrialised coatings catagorised as either polymer, metal and ceramic based. GGB Tribological coatings are principally based on carefully formulated polymer technology to minimise friction and take advantage of their self lubricating properties. Such coatings are relatively inexpensive and can be applied using traditional spray painting technology. By contrast, metal and ceramic coatings require more specialised equipment, are more costly and although more durable with higher temperature resistance, they are less suited to tribological applications due to the higher friction.
Surface coating technology generally refers to the application of a thin film or layer or a dissimilar material onto a substrate that enhances the surface characteristics in some way. The surface coating may be designed to specfically provide chemical or corrosion protection, improve hardness and durability, provide self-lubricating characteristics if relative motion and contact with other bodies, or may even simply be for decorative purposes. The technology aims to ensure an effective mechanical or chemical bond between coating and the underlying surface. GGB surface coating technology is dedicated to extending the life of moving parts by modifying coating surfaces to reducing energy consumpion and improving efficiency by minimising friction, simplifying design through self lubrication behavior that eliminates need for third party lubrication such as grease or oil, and extending durability by reducing risk of seizure damage. The GGB coating used in this way serves as the sacrificial element protecting the more expensive substrate component.
UV Protective coatings generally refer to coatings purposely engineered and applied to protect against the damaging or ageing effects of ultraviolet radiation and sunlight. The coating is designed to act as a barrier, absorbing UV rays and preventing penetration to the underlying surface. This technology is commonly used to create the protective film on sunglasses to protect eyes or as protective clear paints that prevent discolouration of the underlying coloured surface eg car body paintwork.
Polymer coatings are designed to improve function or appearance of components by taking advantage of the inherent material properties such as self lubricating properties, corrosion and chemical resistance.
Our coatings range is built of references using different polymer matrixes that allow different levels of load capacity and operating temperature as well as suitability to work in different media.
Our experts are ready to help you find the right solution for your specific application.