Antibacterial bearings for sterile use in medical and laboratory equipment

Details: Released: 21.11.2015; Last updated: 18.04.2023; Hits: 6216

Lubricant-free, media-resistant, non-magnetic, corrosion-free - these are decisive criteria for components in medical technology. Especially for the industry Igus developed the new plain bearing material "Iglidur AB". Antibacterial plain bearings made of this material help to reduce the germ load and are also lubrication and maintenance-free.

From lab-to-lab pick-and-place lab equipment to patient furniture storage locations, the range of applications for moving products in this industry is very diverse. But antibacterial components are becoming increasingly important for devices and machines. According to the 22196: 2011 antimicrobial effectiveness test (measuring the antibacterial activity of plastics and other non-porous surfaces), the new material's sliding bearings help reduce the bacterial load on users or patients. Like all products of the plastics specialist, Iglidur AB plain bearings are completely non-lubricating. "This has two advantages in medical and laboratory technology," explains Ulf Hottung, medical technology manager at Igus. "First, there is no risk of contamination by oils or fats. On the other hand, machines and devices can be cleaned without hesitation, without the possibility of washing out lubricants. "

It is also important for the cleaning of machines or devices, especially in medical technology, that the components are resistant to media. The Iglidur AB plain bearings have good chemical resistance, which is why contact with aggressive cleaning agents is unproblematic. The slide bearings made of the new material are already available in six different dimensions from 6 to 20 mm inside diameter. Permanent application temperatures from -40 ° to + 70 ° C are possible with slide bearings made of Iglidur AB.