GRAPHALLOY Outperforms Traditional Bearings and Bushings in Ovens, Kilns and Dampers

GRAPHALLOY^®, a graphite/metal alloy, is ideally suited to applications where temperatures are too high to permit the use of oil or other lubricants.

GRAPHALLOY bearings and bushings will not soften at high temperatures or extrude under load. Many grades are suitable for temperatures to 750°F (400°C) in air. In addition, special grades provide service up to 1000°F (535°C) and higher in non-oxidizing atmospheres.

Use GRAPHALLOY bearings and bushings in bakery and industrial ovens, glass plants, conveyors, dryers, kilns, kiln cars, stokers, soot blowers, oil guns, gypsum board and veneer dryers ...wherever temperatures are too high to permit the use of oil or greases.

Click here to learn more about the GRAPHALLOY product line for extreme and high temperatures. 

A Proven Solution for the Most Challenging Plant Maintenance

GRAPHALLOY® 453 Family of Self-Lubricating Bushings are for severe industrial applications where temperatures reach 750̊F (400̊C) 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 453 Bushings are a proven solution for the most challenging plant maintenance and new equipment design.

Learn more about GRAPHALLOY by clicking here.

Cart Wheel Solutions in Extreme Environments

Bronze Bushings were failing in a car bottom steel ingot heating furnace.  With loads of up to 100,000 pounds and temperatures of more than 700° F, the oil failed to keep the bushings lubricated.  There was oil on the floor that created a hazardous situation for the workers.  GRAPHALLOY® bushings were fitted into the housings to accept the axles of the cart wheels.   The bushings have operated for more than two years with no sign of wear.

To learn more about GRAPHALLOY bushings, click here.

High Temperature Damper Solutions

A power company in North Carolina was having problems with their ID fan dampers between the electrostatic precipitator and the stack.  The high temperature for the flue gas (approximately 300° F) coming out of the precipitator was baking the grease in the bearing. 

This gas contained some fly ash that was causing clutch failures in the damper actuation system and required emergency maintenance to avoid shut down of the boiler. GRAPHALLOY^® 845 inserts were installed to replace the ball bearings. 

The dampers have run trouble free for more than two years.

GRAPHALLOY Solves Problems in High Temperature Steel Mill Cooling Bed

A Midwestern steel mill was using GRAPHALLOY® bushings for the horizontal rollers in their cooling beds. The bushings were thriving under severe heat and water spray conditions. 

Because of this success, the mill was considering using GRAPHALLOY flange bearings for another application: the vertical guide rollers along the sides of the cooling beds that were used to keep the hot steel from running off the sides. 

These guide rollers remain static until a piece of hot steel slams up against them. At this moment, they are expected to turn instantly to guide the steel back onto the cooling bed. This mill had been using conventional greased rolling element bearings in the vertical guides that were lasting only a few months. GRAPHALLOY proved to be successful on the vertical rollers as well and the mill has since retro-fitted additional lines with GRAPHALLOY.

GRAPHALLOY® Self-Lubricating Bushings Will Not Seize

The environment in a rubber curing autoclave is 300ºF (150ºC) and has live high pressure steam. The grease-lubricated roller bearings were failing due to high heat and moisture,  causing interruptions in production. When a bearing failed, production was stopped due to the short shelf life of uncured rubber. 

GRAPHALLOY® bushings were installed and, after more than one year, there has been no production interruptions. If replacement is necessary, it can be done during scheduled outages because self-lubricating GRAPHALLOY will not seize the shaft.

High Temperature Damper Solutions

High temperature dampers can be a maintenance problem. These dampers experience temperatures that require frequent greasing and are often in places that are hard to re-grease. In addition, long periods of inactivity is another source of problems as grease hardens or vibration causes metal on metal galling.

Typical GRAPHALLOY Damper Applications:

• Louver Dampers
• Wind Boxes
• Butterfly Dampers
• Guillotine Dampers
• Diverter Dampers
• Radial Vane Dampers

GRAPHALLOY^® is available in a variety of mounting styles from two and four bolt pillow blocks to two and four bolt flange units. These units are available as solid or split and also come with self aligning features.

GRAPHALLOY provides these "install and forget" features:

• Temperature range from -400° F to +1000° F
• Self Lubricating, requires no oil or grease
• Will not seize or lock up
• Self Aligning capabilities for proper alignment
• Long life, maintenance free operation
• Dimensionally interchangeable with most standard ball bearing units

GRAPHALLOY for Bakery Applications

High temperature GRAPHALLOY® bushings have been the choice of oven manufacturers for many years. GRAPHALLOY bushings extend bearing life and reduce maintenance costs for bakeries in temperatures reaching 1000° F (535° C). GRAPHALLOY may be the answer to the most difficult operating problems.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted GRAPHALLOY for "repeat use in food contact equipment" in bakery ovens, pumps, mixers and conveyors. Ovens and conveyors, in particular, undergo high heat and continuous operation that challenge the life and durability of critical components. Self lubricating GRAPHALLOY bushings and bearings perform in temperature extremes...when conventional materials fail.

GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy, prevents unnecessary downtime and lost production. It also survives wash down conditions common in many food applications. With its low coefficient of friction and high strength, GRAPHALLOY bearings deliver long life and are not subject to seizures binding or sudden failure. In addition, the high temperature, self lubricating capabilities of GRAPHALLOY bushings reduce maintenance costs

GRAPHALLOY® Turns Lead-Free Into Problem-Free

In an effort to address environmental concerns, a manufacturer of fluorescent lighting tubes initiated a program to remove lead from the glass. When this move to lead-free glass caused manufacturing problems,GRAPHALLOY® came to the rescue.

Lead was beneficial to the production process. The move to lead-free glass caused a problem with the bushings in the machine that flared the end of the tube and prepared it to attach and seal to the end plugs.

The lead in the glass had provided additional lubrication and kept the units from “gumming up” and sticking. With lead-free glass, the maintenance crew went from rebuilding the units once a year to once every three months.

The plant engineer contacted GRAPHALLOY engineers who then designed copper-grade self-lubricating GRAPHALLOY bushings to test in the machine. The GRAPHALLOY bushings were installed and the machine ran for three months with no problems. At that time, the plant placed a production order for an additional 200 pieces.

The machine fitted with GRAPHALLOY bushings has been operating for over one year without failure...four times the life of the original bushings.

The success of these GRAPHALLOY high temperature bushings provided this plant with better performance and significant cost savings. It demonstrates the potential for GRAPHALLOY upgrades in other manufacturing applications.

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/.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New GRAPHALLOY® Model 163 Pillow Blocks are Long-Wearing

GRAPHALLOY^® Pillow Blocks are Versatile and Eliminate the Need for Lubrication

Graphite Metallizing Corp., the manufacturer of self-lubricating GRAPHALLOY bushing materials, has developed Pillow Block Assemblies that can handle high temperature and submerged environments that do not permit the use of grease and oil.

GRAPHALLOY Pillow Block Model 163 is a rugged, easy-to-install design for moderate speed applications that will operate successfully under high or low load conditions. This heavy-duty unit is available in cast iron or stainless steel. A cast iron split-angle housing is also available.

Pillow Block Model 163 is suitable for high temperature applications such as ovens, drag-line conveyors and dampers. This pillow block also performs well in wet applications such as wash downs and submerged applications like plating tanks and industrial washers.

All GRAPHALLOY pillow blocks have a low coefficient of friction, can withstand submerged conditions and are chemically resistant and non-galling. Since the self lubricating properties of GRAPHALLOY are constant throughout the material, these pillow block assemblies will provide long life and reliable operation.

Graphite Metallizing has other pillow block models that meet a variety of speed and load conditions. They are available in a wide range of sizes and housing types, in two and four bolt arrangements as well as in solid, split and self-aligning configurations. Flange and custom models are also offered.

GRAPHALLOY® Solves a Biodiesel Fuel Development Problem

A machinery design company in Alabama was using steam, high temperature (up to 1000° F/535° C) and an inert atmosphere to convert wood chips and used cooking oils into biodiesel fuel. Because standard bearings were not an option in this environment, GRAPHALLOY^® provided a solution.

The production of biodiesel fuel is important because it is biodegradable, non-toxic, clean-burning and renewable. Additionally, it burns much cleaner than than petroleum-based diesel, creating about 60% less net carbon dioxide emissions. These factors make it an ideal fuel for buses, trucks and farm equipment.

This company's design uses several standard bushings as well as custom-sized bushings for their prototype machines. GRAPHALLOY's diverse mountings and extensive experience proved valuable in developing a solution for this difficult environment.

Alternative fuel manufacturing is a growing field due, in part, to efforts to decrease dependence on petroleum-based fuels. GRAPHALLOY will continue to be a valuable resource for these high-temperature applications.