GRAPHALLOY Bushings and Bearings

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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

High Temperatures Pose No Problem for GRAPHALLOY® 845 Inserts

Graphite Metallizing Corporation announces GRAPHALLOY® 845 Spherical Inserts as a replacement for traditional ball bearings in many hightemperature applications. GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy, is designed to operate without lubrication which makes 845 Spherical Inserts especially suited for operations where temperatures can reach — or exceed — 750°F (400°C).

GRAPHALLOY 845 Spherical Inserts are intended for use in standard pillow and flange blocks without the need to alter or redesign equipment. 845 Spherical Inserts are used in a variety of high temperature applications including ovens, furnaces, conveyors, glass lehrs, dampers, dryers as well as other environments where oil and grease cannot be used. Metric shaft sizes and stainless steel housing and inserts are available along with FDA accepted grades.

According to Eben Walker, General Manager of Graphite Metallizing Corporation, “Using GRAPHALLOY 845 Spherical Inserts has proven time and time again that significant ROI, cost savings and reduced maintenance can be achieved, especially in difficult applications where high temperatures are a concern.“
 
Other benefits of GRAPHALLOY include a low coefficient of friction and dimensional stability. Like all GRAPHALLOY products, 845 Spherical Inserts will not soften at high temperatures or extrude under load. GRAPHALLOY bushings also operate at longer intervals without the need for frequent replacement or maintenance which helps reduce costly downtime.

GRAPHALLOY is also an excellent choice for any application where service and maintenance tasks are cumbersome or difficult to perform. GRAPHALLOY is a proven solution for even the most challenging plant maintenance and new equipment design.

For more information about GRAPHALLOY products, visit http://www.graphalloy.com/.

Monday, October 17, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® at Heat Treat Conference in Cincinnati

Graphite Metalllzing Corporation will be exhibiting at the 2011 ASM Heat Treating Society Conference and Exposition from October 31 - November 2, 2011. This event will be held at the Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Visit us at Booth #1925.

For more information about the 2011 Heat Treating Society Conference, click here.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Bearings That Can Handle The Heat

The bearings on the dampers controlling airflow to two 535-MW coal-fired units at a power plant couldn’t handle the heat. High-temperature bearings solved the problem.

The inlet-air section of a utility boiler is a harsh environment for the dampers that control the flow of preheated air into the combustors. Over time, the hot air dries out the lubricant in the metal bearings, or roller elements, that control the movement of the dampers, causing the dampers to seize.

This was a problem at the Sioux Power Plant of Ameren UE (Union Electric), near St. Louis. The plant has two 535-MW, coal-fired units, each of which has 10 cyclone burners. There are two dampers on each burner -- a control damper and a shut-off -- for a total of 40 secondary air dampers. “On average, we had a bearing problem about every two months,” says James Riegerix, general supervisor at the plant.

Ameren has solved the problem by replacing the lubricated steel bearings with self-lubricating bearings made from GRAPHALLOY®, a graphite/metal alloy by Graphite Metallizing Corp., Yonkers, N.Y. All of the bearings for one boiler were replaced in the spring of 2004, and those in the other unit were replaced a year later. Both installations were completed during planned plant outages, which normally are scheduled every two years. So far, there have been no problems with the new bearings, says Riegerix.

He adds that when the changeover was done, the installers found a single bearing from Graphite Metallizing that had been put in a few years earlier. It was still in such good condition it was not changed.

Read more...

Monday, September 19, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Provides Pillow Block Solutions for Confined Areas

If you have conveyor applications with closely spaced roll or other confined applications, GRAPHALLOY® can provide a solution. The 845 and the 448 series pillow blocks are available with a tapped base, allowing for installation in areas where space is a factor. The 845 series provides a solution for normal duty applications while the 448 series is designed for heavier duty requirements.

Both designs provide the same advantages of all GRAPHALLOY pillow blocks:
• Self lubricating; requiring no grease or oil
• Work in temperatures ranging from -400°F to +1000°F
• Available in FDA accepted grades
• Can be used submerged
• Survives harsh chemicals including wash down applications
• Self aligning design
 • 845 series interchanges with traditional ball bearing design

Typical applications include ovens/furnaces, conveyors, dryers, submersed screens, food processing and more. If you have an application where these or other GRAPHALLOY products can be problems solvers, contact one of our application engineers.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® at the Turbomachinery Symposium

Graphite Metallizing Corporation will be at the 40th Turbomachinery Symposium on September 12 -15, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX.

Visit us at Booth #1707.

Click here for more information about this symposium.

Monday, August 22, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Cam Followers for Wet or Submersible Applications

Graphite Metallizing Corporation announces the availability of GRAPHALLOY® stainless steel cam followers for wet or submersible applications. These stainless steel cam followers are corrosion resistant and survive wash down and steam, eliminating the problems experienced with traditional cam followers.

GRAPHALLOY® cam followers do not contain oil or grease to harden, burn up, contaminate or wash away. They are designed to handle moderate loads and speeds of up to 100 RPM and provide reliable performance in temperatures up to 750° F (400° C).

Typical applications include bakery and industrial ovens, steel mill equipment, glass plants, conveyors, kilns, stokers and substrate dryers. GRAPHALLOY® cam followers also perform well in low temperature environments of -100° F (-75° C).

GRAPHALLOY®, a graphite/metal alloy, is a uniform, solid, self-lubricating material. GRAPHALLOY® cam followers will not deform under load, maintain dimensional stability and provide a constant low coefficient of friction for improved wear. GRAPHALLOY® cam followers are especially suitable in applications where lubrication or maintenance tasks are cumbersome, difficult or impossible to perform.

Graphite Metallizing's GRAPHALLOY® cam followers are made to industry-standard dimensions. Metric sizes and special or custom designs are also available.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Eliminates the Need for Grease and Keeps the Ovens Running

Glass ceramic is ideal for use in a variety of appliances because it is resistant to temperature extremes. This unique material is well-suited for use in cooktops and doors for microwave ovens and fireplaces.

Constant greasing and frequent failures drove a major manufacturer of glass ceramic to seek a better solution. The manufacturer was experiencing problems with their production ovens and dryers. Stud-type cam followers with grease lubrication were being used. The cam followers needed replacement after six months because the grease was failing at the high temperature (428° F/220° C).

After learning about the run dry, self-lubricating properties of GRAPHALLOY®  bearings, the manufacturer contacted Graphite Metallizing Corporation and requested a design solution. Eight standard GRAPHALLOY metric cam followers were installed for testing.

After five months, this manufacturer had already realized significant savings because of reduced maintenance costs and the elimination of high cost, high temperature grease. They were so pleased with the performance of the GRAPHALLOY cam followers that they ordered an additional 200 to retrofit their current ovens.

These GRAPHALLOY cam followers have now been in operation for over one year without the need for replacement or the constant greasing of the original equipment.

The manufacturer plans to retrofit additional ovens in plants worldwide with GRAPHALLOY cam followers.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® No-Lead Bronze Solves Difficult Application Problems

Graphite Metallizing Corporation has developed several bronze GRAPHALLOY® grades that do not contain lead. These essentially lead-free formulations are used in bearings and bushings where the potential for lead contamination is unacceptable.

Applications include deep-well and potable water pumps, and food-processing equipment such as ovens and conveyors. GRAPHALLOY no-lead bronze has been accepted by the FDA as suitable for many food-grade applications.

The family of no-lead bronze, developed by Graphite Metallizing, offers all the advantages of the leaded bronze GRAPHALLOY without any sacrifice in performance. GRAPHALLOY bushings and bearings are non-galling and are dimensionally stable even when submerged, under load or experiencing wide temperature swings.

There are GRAPHALLOY grades that can withstand temperatures ranging from cryogenic to +1000˚F. Because GRAPHALLOY bushings and bearings are self-lubricating, they are suitable for applications where maintenance operations are infrequent or difficult.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks with GRAPHALLOY® Bushings Solve Underwater Bearing Problems

Graphite Metallizing Corporation has introduced a series of stainless steel pillow blocks fitted with self-lubricating GRAPHALLOY® bushings that resist attack from water and water-soluble chemicals, do not require lubrication and are corrosion-resistant.

GRAPHALLOY Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks are a key component of submerged physical therapy and conditioning equipment used by professional sports teams and college athletic departments. The ability of GRAPHALLOY bearings to provide trouble-free underwater operation without any lubrication has been a key factor in the success of this type of equipment, including underwater treadmills.

GRAPHALLOY is a graphite-metal alloy that has exceptional chemical, mechanical and tribological properties that provide a constant, low coefficient of friction. As a result, GRAPHALLOY works where traditional bearing materials often fail. In addition to being self-lubricating, GRAPHALLOY withstands high-temperatures up to 1000˚ F, performs well under cryogenic conditions, can survive dry running pumps and maintains its integrity even when submerged in hostile liquids such as acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons, black liquor, and liquid gases.

GRAPHALLOY wear components improve reliability under conditions such as low speed operation, frequent starts and stops and switchovers from standby to continuous running. FDA accepted grades are available for food applications.

GRAPHALLOY products are available in standard designs including cylindrical bushings with or without grooves, single, double-flanged, split and metal backed bushings as well as pillow block and flange units. In addition, a high percentage of the products are produced to meet custom requirements.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Self-Lubricating Bushings for High Heat, Low Maintenance and Reduced Downtime

Graphite Metallizing Corporation announces additional sizes of the GRAPHALLOY® 453 Family of Self-Lubricating Bushings. These bushings are for severe industrial applications where temperatures reach 750° F (400° C) or higher. GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy, bushings are designed to operate without lubrication.

The 453 Bushings have proven to be successful in a variety of high temperature applications including bakery ovens, heat treat ovens, furnaces, conveyors, overhead paint lines, glass lehrs, louvers, dampers, valves as well as other environments where oil and grease cannot be used. Applications can experience improved performance through the use of GRAPHALLOY materials.

Among their many advantages, GRAPHALLOY bushings operate at longer intervals without the need for maintenance, which reduces costly downtime. They are an excellent choice for applications where service and maintenance tasks are cumbersome or difficult to perform. Additional benefits of GRAPHALLOY include a low coefficient of friction and dimensional stability. The 453 Bushings, like all GRAPHALLOY products, do not soften at high temperatures or extrude under load. Installations of these bushings have operated for more than 10 years without maintenance.

GRAPHALLOY can be the solution to the toughest bearing, bushing, thrust washer, cam follower, or pillow block bearing design problem. It is available in over 100 grades with specific properties that meet a wide range of engineering solutions and specifications. FDA accepted grades of GRAPHALLOY are available for food contact equipment. NSF® International certified two grades of GRAPHALLOY material for use in municipal well pumps and water treatment plant applications.

In some applications, GRAPHALLOY bearings have operated for up to 20 years without maintenance. Standard designs are available but most GRAPHALLOY products are custom designed to the unique requirements of the specific application.

Graphite Metallizing Corporation is ISO certified and has produced GRAPHALLOY since 1913. For additional information about Graphite Metallizing and its products, please visit us online at http://www.graphalloy.com/index.htmlor call 914-968-8400.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Steel Mill Customer Orders Largest GRAPHALLOY® Split Pillow Block Bushing Ever Made

A Graphite Metallizing steel mill customer recently installed 12 “super-sized” GRAPHALLOY® bushings for the main drive shaft in their quench tank.

The Model 478 GRAPHALLOY split pillow block design has a bore ID of 6.00 inches — the largest ever produced by Graphite Metallizing. These pillow blocks are used to support the sprockets that drive the chains pulling molten billets through the quench tank. Each of the dozen pillow blocks that the mill ordered weighs more than 250 lbs. and must function under difficult operating conditions: complete submersion in heated, contaminated water while supporting 10,000 lb. loads at 10 RPM.

GRAPHALLOY bushings can withstand temperatures ranging from cryogenic to 1000° F/535° C) and are dimensionally stable even when submerged or under load. They can be used to solve difficult application problems involving high temperatures, as well as acidic, corrosive and wash-down environments. Because of their long life and self-lubricating qualities, they are especially suitable for installations that cannot be accessed easily, or where performing regular maintenance is difficult.

Graphite Metallizing Corp., established in 1913, produces GRAPHALLOY a graphite/metal alloy bearing material used in the manufacture of self-lubricating bearings and components for machinery and process systems.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Takes a Stand Against Heat and Sand

A foundry that specialized in ferrous and non-ferrous shell molded castings had a bearing problem. The high heat and sand in their molding machines were destroying their brass bushings and stopping their production. GRAPHALLOY®, manufactured by Graphite Metallizing Corp.,provided a solution for this difficult problem.

During production, a casting pattern was mounted to the bottom plate of the machine. Sand was added to the plate. The plate was then rolled back to the center position and the oven lowered over the mold to bake the pattern. The bushings in the arms lowering the oven were exposed to 500°F degrees as well as grit and sand.

As a result of these harsh operating conditions, the brass bushings lowering the oven over the mold were only lasting 2 - 4 weeks. Replacing these bushings required two men - working for nearly two  hours - to make the repair.

The local Graphite Metallizing engineering representative was contacted. A recommendation was made to replace the brass bushings in the arms that raise and lower the oven with GRAPHALLOY Grade 212 High Temperature Bushings.

After the GRAPHALLOY bushings had been in use for 14 months, there was only .003 wear. The company was so pleased with the performance of the GRAPHALLOY bushings that additional orders were placed for all 13 of their molding machines. One of the maintenance repairmen estimated that he was personally saving 30 hours a month.

Once again, GRAPHALLOY proved to be the answer for difficult, high temperature applications.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Bearings for High Temperature, Environmentally Sensitive Designs

Graphite Metallizing Corporation is pleased to announce a family of Tin Based Babbitt GRAPHALLOY® materials for high temperature bearing applications up to 350° F (175° C). These tin based babbitt materials are available in NSF® certified grades for drinking water and are FDA accepted. They will perform reliably as self-lubricating bearings in submerged and dry applications.


GRAPHALLOY (a graphite/metal alloy) Tin Based Babbitt offers many advantages. It is environmentally safe to machine and use, while effectively eliminating the need for grease or oil. By eliminating liquid lubricants, contamination and maintenance can also be reduced.


GRAPHALLOY Tin Based Babbitt materials can often replace plastics because they offer superior heat dissipation and will not melt or cold flow. In low temperature applications (-400° F /-205° C), these bearings solve lubrication problems caused by the viscosity of grease and oil that often prevents proper operation of equipment.


GRAPHALLOY Tin Based Babbitt provides all of the performance benefits of traditional babbitt materials without the environmental concerns. It can be used in potable water, food applications and traditional low temperature applications. GRAPHALLOY bearings and bushings are a proven solution for the most challenging plant maintenance and new equipment design.


Used in the manufacture of bushings, bearings and other components for machinery and process equipment, GRAPHALLOY materials are self-lubricating, impervious to temperature extremes (from -400° F to +1000° F/-205° C to 535° C) and thrive in harsh environments where other bearings fail. Graphite Metallizing Corporation has been producing GRAPHALLOY since 1913.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Helps Generate Reliable Geothermal Power

The Geysers is the largest geothermal power field in the world. Because geothermal power is constant (and nearly free), The Geysers have become one of the most reliable energy sources in Northern California. Currently, the Calpine Corporation owns and operates 19 of 21 power plants at The Geysers. Calpine and their predecessors have used GRAPHALLOY® to solve a critical pump application problem.

geyserCalpine is able to harness the superheated steam from The Geysers to generate 725MW of electricity. Despite its advantages, geothermal power has one limitation. Some of the 350 steam wells will eventually exhaust their supply of steam. In response to this problem, operators in the field reinject water into the ground to replenish the steam for power generation. 

However, one problem existed. Bearing materials were limited because of the temperature and corrosive environment of the injected water. To make this critical process viable, GRAPHALLOY bearings are used in the pumps injecting water condensed from the steam and treated wastewater back into the ground in the existing 58 injection wells. A special GRAPHALLOY grade was developed for this severe service.

GRAPHALLOY bearings have been a critical component of power generation at The Geysers for over 25 years. The hot, corrosive silt-ladened water required a special bearing material and GRAPHALLOY was, and is, the answer.

(Image courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit - David Parsons)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

High Temp GRAPHALLOY® Bushings Handle Hot, Harsh Environments

Self-lubricating GRAPHALLOY® bearings operate in high temperatures up to 750°F (400°C) in air and up to 1000°F (535°C) in non-oxidizing atmospheres. GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy is uniform throughout and contains no oil or grease to harden or burn up in high temperatures or under load. Since they do not soften, gum, or seize in hot and harsh applications, as grease-lubricated and plastic bearings may, GRAPHALLOY bearings/bushings reduce maintenance, eliminate need for frequent replacements, and provide trouble-free operation.

Available in over 100 grades with specific properties to suit a wide range of operating conditions, GRAPHALLOY can be used in water, hydrocarbons, weak acids, and alkalies, and works submerged. Commonly used materials are copper, bronze, silver, and nickel.

GRAPHALLOY products include bushings, flange bearings, hanger bearings, pillow blocks, seals, case rings, thrust washers, wheel assemblies, and electrical contacts, and are available in custom designs or as standard components. Typical applications include ovens, furnaces, conveyors, dryers, dampers, pumps, and plating tanks. GRAPHALLOY has received FDA acceptance and can be steam cleaned without damage or performance reduction.


Thursday, March 17, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Plays a Key Role in Geothermal Energy

Crucial to the Success of Pentane Pumps in Geothermal Power

Pentane is a low lubricity, low boiling point liquid. Whenever there is an upset, pumps in pentane service risk galling. Because of the nature of this pumpage, GRAPHALLOY® wear parts are selected to provide a margin of safety and prevent galling.

Why Pentane in Geothermal?
Geothermal power generation must operate with whatever temperature is found in a particular well. Water and steam work well at high temperatures. At lower temperatures, a "binary system" may sometimes provide better efficiency.

In a binary system, the hot fluid from the geothermal source is used to heat a second, lower boiling point fluid (in this case, pentane) to convert it to gas and drive a turbine. The nature of pentane allows the whole cycle (fluid to gas, drive the power generation turbine, and condense to fluid) to take place efficiently at a lower temperature.

At this location, a binary system is being used to squeeze additional power from the hot condensate leaving a primary water/steam turbine. Using an additional set of heat exchangers this energy is captured to heat low boiling point pentane and to drive an additional turbine. The pentane system harnesses more of the energy brought out of the ground.

Like getting something for nothing.

The Challenge
A major U.S. geothermal power plant experienced difficulties with their pentane feed pumps. The pumps are Goulds model 12RJHC-7 stage vertical can pumps. They have a shaft diameter of 1.5 inches with an 18 inch diameter suction can. Each pump is driven by a 125 HP, 1800 RPM electric motor.

Service Conditions
Flow: 966 GPM
Total Developed Head: 476 Feet
Specific Gravity: 0.58 SG
Temperature: 123° F/51° C
Bearings: originally fitted with bronze bearings

The plant's pentane pumps were experiencing deflections on start-up and shut-down. This caused the rotating sleeves to come into contact with the bronze bearings. Because of pentane's poor lubricity, this can cause severe wear or galling and risks damage or seizing of the pumps.

The Solution
To eliminate this problem, the maintenance staff consulted with the engineers at Graphite Metallizing and converted the bowl and line shaft bearings to a GRAPHALLOY bronze grade. The upgrade was a relatively simple procedure allowing the pumps to return to service quickly. The pumps have been in operation without issues for over 3 years.

GRAPHALLOY bearings have been improving the operation of pumps in difficult applications for almost a century. Graphite Metallizing Corporation, the manufacturer of GRAPHALLOY bearings, has been supplying products to companies involved in the production of renewable energy for 50+ years.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Screw Conveyor Bushings for Reliable Service

GRAPHALLOY® Type 1017 Self-lubricating Split Bushings, available from Graphite Metallizing Corp., are ideal for screw conveyor applications.  

GRAPHALLOY bushings with long life and low friction characteristics have a history of solving bushing problems for screw conveyors. These bushings contain no oil to contaminate the conveyed materials and are particularly suitable for screw conveyor installations including agitator or batch mixers. Type 1017 bushings are split to provide for easy installation along the conveyor.  

Type 1017 bushings can withstand dust, chemical attack, caustic liquids and high temperature environments. They provide superior performance in continuous duty operations and in applications where maintenance intervals are infrequent, or where useful life must be prolonged. 

GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy formed from molten metal, graphite and carbon, is insoluble in most industrial liquids and is not affected by submersion in most acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons or liquid gases.  GRAPHALLOY does not deform under load and maintains dimensional stability.

GRAPHALLOY products work where oil-based lubricants oxidize and where plastic bushings fail or prove troublesome. GRAPHALLOY bushings are applied in refineries, paper mills, waste-to-energy plants, glass plants, steel mills and power plants.  Grades are available for temperatures to 750˚F (400˚C) in air, and special grades provide reliable service up to 1000˚F (535˚C) and higher in non-oxidizing atmospheres.

GRAPHALLOY bushings and bearings are a proven solution for even the most challenging plant maintenance and new equipment design requirements.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Food Manufacturer Asks "If Your Bearings Are As Good As You Say They Are..."

GRAPHALLOY® was presented with a challenge from one of the largest food manufacturers in the country. Their frozen food division, specializing in frozen pizza, was experiencing difficulties with the operation of their bakery ovens. The conventional oil-lubricated bearings being used in the ovens were lasting only one week. The customer was replacing 16 to 20 burned-out bearings every seven days for over one year.

As a prime supplier to the school lunch program, this food manufacturer was producing pizza in high volume. They were baking two shifts per day plus a third shift for cleaning, seven days a week. To maintain this level of production, the bakery was using two continuous belt-type ovens with an operating temperature of 525° F (275° C).

The bakery had problems keeping the belt tracking straight as it rolled through the long ovens. On several occasions, the belts and entire sections of the oven were damaged when the belts veered off the track. The customer devised a system of cam follower roller guides to keep the belts on track. The cam followers were mounted on an adjustable bracket with slotted holes to keep the rollers in contact with the belt.

Despite these efforts, the bearings continued to fail. This customer eventually contacted us through our website (www.graphalloy.com) with an email that began, "If your bearings are as good as you say they are...". Sensing their frustration, the local sales representative for Graphite Metallizing met with the customer to evaluate their problem and recommend a solution. Within a few weeks, GRAPHALLOY 1217-24-120.3 cam followers were installed. More than four months later, these cam followers were not showing any signs of wear.

Once again, GRAPHALLOY has exceeded expectations.

In addition to bakery ovens, GRAPHALLOY bearings may be used in dryers, grills, bottling plants and packaging equipment - anywhere grease and oil might fail. GRAPHALLOY bearings also withstand steam cleaning operations without any loss of performance.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Self Lubricating Bushings Offer Dependable Performance

Graphite Metallizing Corp. announces the 117 Series of GRAPHALLOY® bushings which deliver dependable performance in high temperature applications. GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy, is formed from molten metal, graphite and carbon. It is a uniform, solid, self-lubricating bushing and bearing material. The 117 Series excels in bakery ovens, heat treat furnaces, glass plants, potato chip and bagel factories, dampers, stokers and wherever grease, oil and plastic bushings fail or prove troublesome.

In addition, the 117 Series of GRAPHALLOY bushings provides a convenient, pre-engineered solution for plant maintenance and new equipment design requirements. The 117 Series is available in two primary grades for high temperatures, both with FDA acceptance as well as for low temperatures.

All GRAPHALLOY products work where oil-based lubricants oxidize or where plastics fail. Many grades are suitable for temperatures to 750°F in air, and special grades provide reliable service up to 1000°F and higher in non-oxidizing atmospheres.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Specialy Materials Help Improve Pump Reliability and Save Energy

GRAPHALLOY® allows for reduction of clearances

Efficiency degradation in pumps can be related to three areas. Worn clearances between the wear rings of the impeller and the casing can increase leakage and drop the volumetric efficiency of the pump. Rough, rusty and damaged internals increase friction, reducing hydraulic efficiency. Finally, rubs, galling, friction in the mechanical seals and bearings, can result in the reduction of mechanical efficiency.

Together, these three pumping problems reduce the available flow, lower pressure and/or require more power consumption. These three issues also make a pump less reliable. Pump efficiency and reliability are often intertwined.

Click here to continue reading this article from Pumps & Systems

Monday, February 7, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® at Rotating Equipment Reliability Seminar

Graphite Metalllzing Corporation will be exhibiting at the Rotating Equipment Reliability & Vibration Analysis Seminar on February 8, 2011. This event is sponsored by the Triplex Chapter of the Vibration Institute and will be held at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Beaumont, Texas.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® at International Exhibitions

Graphite Metallizing Corporation will be sponsoring a booth at the following international exhibit:

Middle East Turbine Symposium (METS)
February 13 -16, 2011
Doha, Qatar
Booth #520

Graphite Metallizing Corporation just returned from the SEPEM Industries exhibition in Douai, France.


Thursday, January 27, 2011

GRAPHLON GM 860® — An Abrasion-Resistant Pump Bushing Material

GRAPHLON GM 860® is an abrasion-resistant bushing material that protects pumps and helps prolong pump life. Developed by Graphite Metallizing, the material is a tough, polymer/graphite-based alloy used in the manufacture of pump bushings and other critical-wear parts.

GRAPHLON GM 860® provides exceptional abrasion resistance in harsh environments, has high compressive strength and can handle temperature extremes from -100˚ F to 300˚ F  (-75˚ C to 150˚ C). It is inert to most noxious chemicals, including acid mine water, hydrogen sulfide and jet fuel, and does not swell in water.

GRAPHLON GM 860® was developed as a replacement for traditional pump materials which are prone to damage from highly-abrasive suspensions. River water pumping stations and down hole sump pumps are two examples of key applications. The material also performs exceptionally well under both dry running and severe-duty abrasive-contaminated conditions.

Graphite Metallizing Corp., established in 1913, produces GRAPHALLOY® a graphite/metal alloy bearing material used in the manufacture of self-lubricating bearings and components for machinery and process systems.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

GRAPHALLOY® Cam Followers For High Temperature Applications

Graphite Metallizing Corporation announces GRAPHALLOY® high temperature cam followers which outperform ordinary grease or oil-lubricated cam followers in high temperature applications.

GRAPHALLOY cam followers do not contain oil or grease to harden, burn up, contaminate or wash away. They are designed to handle moderate loads and speeds of up to 100 RPM. They provide reliable performance in temperatures up to 750°F (400°C).

Typical applications include bakery and industrial ovens, steel mill processing lines, glass plants, conveyors, kilns, stokers and substrate dryers. GRAPHALLOY cam followers also perform well in low temperatures environments of -100° F and below (-73°C and below) and in wet or submerged applications.

GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy, is a uniform, solid, self-lubricating material. GRAPHALLOY cam followers will not deform under load, maintain dimensional stability and provide a constant low coefficient of friction for improved wear. GRAPHALLOY cam followers are especially suitable in applications where maintenance tasks are cumbersome, difficult or impossible to perform.

Graphite Metallizing's GRAPHALLOY cam followers are made to industry-standard dimensions. We can also supply metric sizes and special or custom designs.