Rulon

Rulon is the trade name for a family of PTFE plastics produced by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. Rulon plastics are known for their low coefficient of friction, excellent abrasion resistance, wide range of operating temperatures, and chemical inertness. Common applications for Rulon include seals, piston rings, bearings, and electrical insulation.

Rulon is a proprietary, homogeneous material made primarily of PTFE-based resins engineered and developed for specific applications. The Rulon family of materials combines high compressive strength, a low coefficient of friction, and excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance running without lubrication. Rulon products are used in bearing and seal applications at temperatures from -400° F to 500° F with and without supplemental lubricants. Rulon products are unique in that they do not cause stick-slip, or erratic low-speed motion. They also withstand a variety of harsh environments such as extreme dryness, cryogenic temperatures, water, steam and hydrocarbon fuel. Rulon products primarily are used for mechanical, electrical and chemical applications.

Rulon is a modified PTFE known for its low coefficient of friction, excellent abrasion resistance, wide range of operating temperatures, and chemical inertness. Rulon LR is a darker maroon color for rotary and linear bearings against hardened steel. 

Key Properties 

No stick-slip

High compressive strength

Low coefficient of friction

Excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance

Withstands low and high temperature extremes

Grades and Colors

Rulon LR

Rulon LR is a maroon colored bearing material best known for its versatile design properties. It is compatible with most hardened steel substrates. Mild steel is acceptable; harder running surfaces are better. Rulon has a practically universal chemical inertness. Of the chemicals encountered in commercial practice, only molten sodium and fluorine, at elevated temperatures and pressures, show any signs of attack.  For continuous non-lubricated service, Rulon LR sleeve bearings are capable of operating up to 10,000 PV. Higher values are possible for intermittent service.

Rulon LR is modified Rulon AR and is marked by low deformation characteristics that increase the mechanical properties for slightly more load capacity with a corresponding decrease in flexibility. Rulon LR is compatible with most hardened steal substrates. Mild steel is acceptable, though harder surfaces are better. It also has a virtually universal chemical inertness. This grade sometimes is used as a seal for piston rings but not in flexing lip-seal applications.

Rulon AR

Rulon AR is somewhat more flexible than Rulon LR, hence suitable for seals and bonded coating of slide surfaces. It has many decades of use in automotive shaft seals and fuel metering pump cups. Rulon AR has a practically universal chemical inertness like that of Rulon LR and provides long life and reliability in continuous non-lubricated service. It is capable of operating at PV values up to approximately 10,000.  Higher PV values are possible for intermittent use applications.

Rulon AR is the original Rulon material and the first commercially available reinforced PTFE. It continues to be used widely in both bearing and seal applications. Rulon AR has an excellent combination of flexibility and load-carrying properties, high wear resistance, low friction, and good electrical insulative and chemical properties. This grade is designed for long life and reliability in continuous nonlubricated service. Because the reinforcing agents in Rulon AR are ceramic in nature, mating surfaces should have minimum hardness of Rockwell C35. Typical uses are seals, piston cups and some bearings. Color is light maroon.

Rulon J

Rulon J is an all-polymeric reinforced, light brown colored PTFE compound that operates exceptionally well against soft mating surfaces such as 316 stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel, brass and other plastics. The unique "shaft friendly" material is also low in friction and wear and is self lubricating.

Rulon J has one of the lowest coefficients of friction of most reinforced PTFE materials. This makes it ideally suited for start/stop applications where stick-slip must be eliminated. The tribological properties of this material also make it suitable for both bearing and wear component applications.

Rulon J can be used against nonferrous and nonmetallic surfaces such as mild steel, 316 stainless steel, aluminum, brass and other plastics. The mechanical strength of Rulon J is slightly less than it is for other Rulon grades. It is ideally suited for start/stop applications where stick-slip must be eliminated. Rulon J should not be used in alkaline solutions, oxidizing acids or steam environments. Color is dull gold.

Rulon 641

Rulon 641 is manufactured from FDA compliant materials which possess excellent load and wear characteristics. It offers excellent, continuous non-lubricated service up to 10,000 PV - higher for intermittent service. While the load capacity of Rulon 641 is generally limited to 1,000 psi at room temperature, deformation is a function of wall thickness, temperature and load.

Its compatibility with a wide array of mating surfaces, including mild steel, 303 and 316 stainless steels, as well as harder materials, make it a good choice for most food and pharmaceutical bearing applications.

Rulon 641 is an FDA-compliant material suitable for most mating surfaces, including mild steel and 303 and 316 stainless steel. This grade was developed for food and drug contact applications. It has excellent chemical and wear resistance, surpassing other materials such as Nylon, UHMW polyethylene and virgin PTFE. Rulon 641 has a deformation underload comparable to Rulon LR. Color is white.

Rulon 142

Aqua colored low deformation material suitable for linear bearings and slides Rulon 142 is a specially formulated dull blue-green linear bearing material that exhibits low wear, high thermal dissipation, and good dimensional stability characteristics. Among its many benefits are the virtual elimination of stick-slip, vibration dampening, self-lubrication, uniform friction, long life, ease of application and design diversity.

Rulon 142 has excellent mechanical properties and is the ideal material for machine tool applications. Its low deformation characteristics limit the amount of misalignment that can occur with other bearing materials. Strong acids and bases should be avoided, as they may attack the fillers.

Rulon 142 was developed specifically for use as linear guideways on machine tools. It has a slightly lower deformation underload than Rulon LR and is more thermally and electrically conducive. Typical characteristics include low wear, high thermal dissipation and good dimensional stability. Rulon 142 also is more abrasive and less chemically resistant than Rulon LR; however, most other physical properties are similar. Strong acids and bases should be avoided, as they may attack the Rulon 142 fillers. Color is bright turquoise.

Rulon Pictures