Self-Lubricating Bushings: Material Systems, Tribology, and Reliable Design for Dry-Running Motion
A self-lubricating bushing is a plain bearing designed to reduce friction and wear without a conventional external grease or oil line during normal service. It does not mean that every design is chemically identical, maintenance-free in every environment, or suitable for every load and speed. The term includes oil-impregnated sintered bronze bushings, steel-backed PTFE composite bearings, POM-lined bushes, graphite-plugged bronze bushes, solid-lubricant-dispersed bearings, engineered polymer bushes, and some fabric-lined spherical plain bearings. Each system stores, transfers, or presents lubricant differently.
Good selection starts with the motion and environment: radial or axial load, oscillation or rotation, speed, PV duty, temperature, shock, contamination, mating shaft hardness and finish, housing stiffness, clearance, corrosion, installation method, and service-life target.
