High-strength, low-friction composite is capable of withstanding high loads and stresses over a long service life, targeting demanding applications in all sectors.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions (Trelleborg, Sweden) launches Orkot C620, an ultra-low friction bearing composite material with five times the compressive strength of other Orkot materials.

A high-specification thermoset composite, Orkot C620 meets the requirements of demanding high-load applications across all market sectors including energy, off-highway and industrial. Though strong and light, it withstands high loads and stresses over a long service life.

According to Mark Hampton, product and innovations manager, “Orkot C620’s optimized properties provide customers with a step change in composite bearings, offering a combination of ultra-low friction and a compressive strength of 470 MPa. It is stronger and has better friction characteristics than competitor composite materials, and can even challenge many metallic bearings for strength.”

Hampton describes the material featuring a “strong glass fiber backing with a low-friction Orkot lining,” using a distinctive compound formulation so that the “properties of the different layers increase load capacity and strength.”

In aerospace, for example, Orkot C620 is ideal for landing gear applications, providing the required strength of a comparable metal bearing with significant weight reduction, increasing fuel efficiency and enabling more passenger and luggage capacity. Orkot C620 also delivers high performance in offshore and marine applications; for offshore wind turbines, it reduces maintenance requirements for deep sea mooring connections and provides electrical isolation, enhancing corrosion resistance while resisting high loads from rough ocean currents. In wind turbine pitch cylinders, it provides a low coefficient of friction, enabling smooth operation at high loads and low speeds.

Additional applications include cranes and slewing bearings, floating production — storage and offloading (FPSO) mooring infrastructure — and off-highway applications like excavators. 

Orkot C620 has been extensively tested for its mechanical properties, thermal expansion and fluid compatibility, and meets standards including AS 9100, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. Bespoke customer testing for specific customer requirements is also available.