Advanced Materials - PEEK & Vespel®
When water, process fluid, or harsh chemistry rules out a traditional babbitted surface, Kingsbury can apply engineered pad materials on thrust or journal bearings to support long-life operation in hostile environments.
Advanced Material Thrust Bearings for Process-Lubricated Applications
Kingsbury advanced material thrust bearings are designed for applications where traditional babbitted surfaces are not suitable due to process fluids, water lubrication, or chemically aggressive environments. By applying engineered polymer pad materials to proven thrust bearing designs, Kingsbury supports stable hydrodynamic operation in services where lubricant choice, temperature behavior, and wear resistance are critical to machine reliability.
Advanced Materials
Kingsbury offers advanced material thrust bearings using engineered polymer pad surfaces applied to established thrust bearing designs.
Material options include:
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PEEK-based pad materials for water or process-lubricated service, often used as replacements for obsolete asbestos-based bearings
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Vespel® pad materials selected for lubricity, dimensional stability, and manufacturability in process fluid applications
Design and configuration considerations include:
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Thrust bearing sizes ranging from small pump applications to larger vertical machines
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Pad counts and layouts tailored to load distribution and space constraints
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Non-equalized and equalized configurations, depending on application needs
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Compatibility with water, process fluids, or oil where applicable
Material selection is based on mechanical strength, creep resistance, thermal behavior, and compatibility with the process fluid.
Applied Engineering Support for Advanced Materials
Advanced material thrust bearings are not a drop-in substitute for babbitted designs. Successful application depends on matching material behavior to the process fluid and real operating conditions. Kingsbury’s leadership is built on applied engineering experience and field performance, contact us to discuss your application or request more information.