PTFE Slide Bearings

WHAT ARE SLIDE BEARINGS?

A slide bearing comprises an upper element and a lower element, which operate by sliding against one another. The upper element is generally larger than the lower element by the amount of the anticipated movement. This ensures that the lower element is subjected to uniform load throughout motion and excludes foreign matter from the sliding interface.

The fantastic frictional properties of PTFE mean it is an ideal material to be used in this application. The material has very low friction coefficients with pads and slideways made from Virgin PTFE and the use of different grades of fillers can greatly improve wear resistance and friction coefficient.

Typical applications include construction, bridge bearings, pedestrian footbridges, storage tanks & structure expansion and movement joints.

PTFE SLIDE BEARING CAPABILITIES

PTFE slide bearings are widely used in the construction and offshore sectors to solve the problem of movement caused by a range of factors. Take a look at our slide bearing selection and installation guide for more information.

AF115 is reinforced PTFE material specifically developed for slide bearing applications. This material comprises a unique blend of filler compounds to give optimum compressive strength whilst retaining very low frictional coefficients.

Slide Bearings

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Recessed

Made primarily from PTFE, polished stainless steel plates & carbon steel plates

Bolted Thru

Made primarily from PTFE, polished stainless steel plates & carbon steel plates

Counterfaced

Made primarily from PTFE, polished stainless steel plates & carbon steel plates

PTFE

Made primarily from PTFE & carbon steel plates

Elastomeric

Made primarily from PTFE, an elastomeric piece & carbon steel plates

Thermally Insulated

Made primarily from PTFE, thermal insulation boards & carbon steel plates

AFT Fluorotec have been manufacturing slide bearings for the UK construction industry for many years. Slide bearings are common in buildings that use steel skeleton structures and require the use of movement and /or expansion joints in the form of PTFE slide bearings. The construction projects we have been involved in are vast, including the Olympic stadium and village, Edinburgh’s Haymarket station, The National Performance Centre for Sport at Heriot Watt University.

We work in close partnership with many structural steel companies, architects, and engineers and find ourselves the technical partners to advise and supply PTFE slide bearings wherever movement within or at the interface between structures or objects exists. This can be from any of a number of inputs such as expansion & contraction from temperature change. Environmental inputs like wind or seismic movement or simple issues like connection interface of different materials which move and shift differently.

TECHNICAL DATA, selection and installation guide