Choosing the Right Plastic Plain Bearings for High‑Temperature Cleaning Applications

Jan Michels (Edited by Shizu Yamaguchi)

Machines used in the packaging, food, and beverage industries get cleaned regularly and intensively, often at temperatures above 100 °C.

igus® offers several polymer plain bearings that have no problem at these high temperatures.

High‑temperature‑resistant iglide® plain bearings

iglide Material	Continuous Temperature	Short‑term Temperature
iglide H	up to 200 °C	up to 240 °C
iglide H1	up to 200 °C	up to 240 °C
iglide H370	up to 200 °C	up to 240 °C
iglide X	up to 250 °C	up to 310 °C
iglide X6	up to 250 °C	up to 310 °C
iglide Z	up to 250 °C	up to 310 °C

But caution is advised: if there is contact with steam, iglide Z should not be used; instead, use X or X6.

High‑temperature bearings with direct food contact

If temperature resistance is necessary and there will be direct food contact, iglide A350 (up to 180 °C) or A500 (up to 250 °C) is the right choice.

iglide Material	Maximum Temperature	Direct Food Contact
iglide A350	up to 180 °C	Yes
iglide A500	up to 250 °C	Yes

Bearing retention during high‑temperature cleaning

Cleaning at higher temperatures may cause plain bearings to “wander” out of their housing holes. The bearing’s press‑fit seating is then lost.

How can this be prevented?

Challenge	Recommended Measure
Loss of press‑fit due to heat	Constructive measures (e.g. flanged bearings)
Material expansion during cleaning	Use a different bearing material
Repeated high‑temperature washdown	Additional mechanical securing

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