AMES Self-lubricating Sintered Bush Bearings

About AMES Self-lubricating Sintered Bush Bearings

Founded in 1951, AMES is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of sintered metal components. AMES is one of the world leaders in the manufacture of sintered components in large series. 

AMES is a world recognized manufacturer of self-lubricating sintered bearings by designing according to OEM drawings, especifically designed for a given equipment.

Most of AMES Solsona plant production corresponds to this OEM range, a plant specialised in manufacturing bearings. This plant is equipped with a R&D laboratory specialized in bearings, able to provide customized solutions to their customers, in terms of material choice, oil, shapes, tolerances, and assembly method.

MATERIALS

AMES manufactures according to all sintered material standards in the market.
Materials offered by AMES are:

• Bronze: This material has very low friction coefficient, typically around 0.02 at the usual working PVs. Bronce 90/10 is the most commonly used in the market.
  AMES has developed Ames-A4 bronze, which has lower friction coefficient than bronze 90/10, i.e., 0.02.
• Bronze Ames-E47. This bronze with special alloying has high corrosion resistance against impure fuels. Its use is for fuel pumps.
• Iron: This is the lowest cost material, but its friction coefficient is much higher than that of bronze, approximately 0.08. Typical compositions are plain Fe, Fe-C, Fe-Cu, and Fe-Cu-C.
• Iron-Based composite materials: Materials IBC-S and IBC-H, developed by AMES, have lower friction coefficient than any other iron in the market, approximately 0.04-0.06, at an equivalent cost. Fe-Bronze mixes have similar friction coefficient, but at a higher cost. IBC-Plus is a material specially developed to provide a low friction coefficient in linear movements.
• Ames-LFC: It is an iron-based material with double layer. Its behaviour at start-stop is better than bronze, although the performance at rated conditions is the same. Applications where the friction coefficient or the noise level are critical, are ideal for this material. Its price is between bronze and iron.
• Aluminium Ames-U4: It is suited to resist environment corrosion in applications where bronze and iron present corrosion. This material presents a friction behaviour value in-between bronze and iron, with a lower price than bronze designed version.

Several types of solid lubricants can be added to all these materials, in order to improve the performance under specific conditions.

OILS

The choice of the impregnating oil is critical for the bearing functionality.

Self-Lubricating Sintered Bearing  

A self-lubricating sintered bearing is a metallic component with high porosity (20-25% in volume), impregnated in a lubricant oil. The oil contained in the porosity provides a constant lubrication between bearing and shaft, so the system does not need any additional external lubricant. Self-lubrication allows this type of sliding bearing to work under hydrodynamic conditions, resulting in a very low friction coefficient.

Sintered Bronze cylindrical bushings are all self-lubricating and maintenance-free. The sintered bronze bushings consist of a porous bronze matrix impregnated with lubricant. The permissible sliding velocity for sintered bronze bushings is very high, which makes the bushings suitable for rotating applications. These Sintered Bronze bushings are most suitable for applications with rotating movements and where the self-lubricating performance requirements are high.

Exceptional Temperature and Corrosion Resistance

Crafted for demanding environments, these bush bearings withstand temperatures from -40C to +200C. The self-lubricating feature not only reduces friction but also provides a high degree of corrosion resistance, making them suitable for outdoor and humid conditions.


Versatile Industrial Applications

These bearings are an excellent fit for various applications, including automotive assemblies, electric motors, industrial machinery, and home appliances. Their low-noise performance combined with maintenance-free operation provides significant advantages in both industrial and domestic environments.


Customization and Precision Engineering

AMES sintered bush bearings offer customization in shape, thickness, and bore size according to specific requirements. Adhering to ISO 9001 standards, each bearing is engineered for optimal performance, ensuring reliability and durability across numerous industries.