In many aspects of marine life, marine operating machines search the bushes between propeller shafts in the brushing of their rudders using a range of marine hardware. One among them stands out – the composite bearing material.
As the ship construction industry is advancing in the usage of higher operating efficiencies that can enhance the safety performance of a ship, using alternative solutions that reduce cost and extend the overhauls for maintenance is important. These alternative solutions can be found in the usage of materials such as composite bearings.
These composite materials, such as composite bearings, are now being replaced in place of traditional bronze. They’re growing abundantly in applications, and the advancement in using this material gives ship owners plenty of advantages for using them.
Some of These Advantages Include:
- Lower coefficient of friction
- Higher Capacity for Compressive Load
- Enabled Self-Lubrication
- Suitable for both fresh and saltwater
- There are environmentally friendly
- Enhanced steering and propulsion system
These composite bearing materials offered maintenance-free solutions that prevent any amount of galvanization or corrosion while at the same time improving the oil systems, et cetera.
Here are some ways how a ship maneuvering systems to deck equipment finished using composite materials while enhancing the operation and providing longevity to marine bearings.
Applications of Composite Bearings in the Marine Field
Apart from the marine bearings applications for underwater usage such as mentioned above for propeller shaft, ship hulls, rudders and bushings; They can also be used in debt cash covers and other roller bearings.
The size of these marine composite bearings ranges for smaller applications and large scale applications, which can be; anywhere between a 1-inch diameter to anything exceeding a 30-inch diameter for large ships.
The Advantages of Composite Bearings Materials:
Shipowners tend to have the need to keep maintenance and downtime of their machinery to the bare minimum in order to improve the performance levels. The usage of composite materials comes in handy at this point.
When ships require replacing traditional ball bronze or wood-based bushings, composite materials can be replaced in these. The use of these composite bearing materials could help to alleviate Lubricant discharges, preventing corrosion or galvanization between dissimilar metals.
Rather bearings and propeller shafts made using composite bearing materials can ideally be replaced in place of rubber land, wood and bronze bushings.
Aid In The Ship Manoeuvring Systems
Side thrusters of ships are used to make the ship docking process controllable and safe. The tent consists of a propeller that runs from the left to the right side of the hull, all the way near the bow.
These side thrusters are traditionally made using bronze bearings that need to be greased to maintain. However, the replacement of these traditional bronze bearings by water-lubricated composite bearing materials could significantly increase these bearings’ lives while reducing the amount of vibration and smoothing out the docking process.
Aid in The Stabiliser Systems
Lubricant tends to discharge from sin stabilizes, which prompted marine operators to look for an alternative solution to using grease and oil systems. Although using environmentally acceptable lubricants is tolerated, it is better to replace them with water-lubricated composite bearing alternatives.
These are some of the important applications of composite bearing materials in the marine industry.