Teflon® or Fluorogold® - Both can serve well on angles, vertically or in a radius, but for best results look to a horizontal application.

The common conception of a Slide Bearing Assembly is with it functioning horizontally. The lower member is fixed and the upper member has movement +/- along only one straight line. While that is the most common application there are many others based on situation and need.

Care should be exercised in the placement and expected duration of the welds.

FRP Pads provide useful alternative to Teflon® and Fluorogold® Slide Bearings

Requirements can be related to:

• Thermal expansion or contraction
• Wind effected movement
• Machinery Vibration
• Seismic tremors

In any situation where a Slide Bearing is required an alternative that could be considered is the Fiber Reinforced Pad, or FRP.

The Steel Supply Company specializes in Slide Bearings using Fluorogold®, PTFE, Teflon®, Graphite and a wide range of configurations.

The typical Slide Bearing configuration, most often called out as FC-1010-CS, is made with two Fluorogold® elements. Both the Upper and Lower elements are 3/32” thick Fluorogold® bonded to 1/8” thick carbon steel. Fig. 1 and Fig 2.

The Steel Supply Company frequently sees requirements for Teflon® or Fluorogold® Slide Bearings where the assembly is longer than 48” and the designer calls for a single continuous upper and lower member. This can be done but is almost always unnecessary.

Note : Bearings can be standard configuration or uniquely designed by the project engineer or architect. The plan should not be altered without the approval of the designer.

As construction engineering advances, more frequently Slide Bearings are being designed with bonded rubber layers to allow for rotation and/or vibration isolation. There is a standard configuration for these bearings and some basics should be understood.

In Slide Bearing design as the anticipated operating temperature increases adjustments have to be made to the bearing configuration. At approximately 400°F / 204°C the glue that bonds the Fluorogold® or Teflon® to the backing plate will melt and failure will occur soon afterward.

They will be found on plans for everything from offshore drilling platforms, big box stores, renovations, or any structure where the stress of movement, expansion and contraction needs to be relieved.