Patent ID: 6485608
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: C08J,D21H,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a bearing material, the method including the steps of:(a) forming a water based slurry having a solids content comprising 30 to 80% by volume of a fluoro-polymer, 10 to 30% by volume of web-forming fibrillated fibers, and 5 to 40% by volume of filer material selected from at least one of the group comprising: inorganic fibers; inorganic particulate material; metal fibers; metal powders; organic fibers; organic particulate material; and, organic matrix strengthening agents, the web-forming and filler materials being resistant to temperatures above the melting point or curing temperature of the fluoropolymer; (b) depositing a layer of the slurry on to a substrate so that the water drains from the layer and a deposited layer is formed in which the web-forming fibers from a web containing the fluoro-polymer and the filler material; (c) consolidating the layer by pressure; (d) heating the material to a temperature above the melting point of the fluoro-polymer in order to cure the fluoro-polymer, (e) attaching a strong backing layer by adhesive means wherein the thickness of said deposited layer being chosen such that the thickness of the bearing material layer above the backing layer after consolidation lies within the range from 50 to 400 &mgr;m.