Japan Seiko Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as NSK) has successfully developed a deep groove ball bearing equipped with the world's first 100% plant-derived heat-resistant bioplastic cage.
NSK is committed to achieving a carbon neutral society. As part of this, we are expanding the use of bioplastics, which have a higher CO2 reduction effect than conventional petroleum plastics. NSK expects the product to achieve sales of 800 million yen in 2024.
Development background
Air conditioner sales are expected to increase due to increased demand for replacement of high-performance air conditioners with ventilation functions due to the increase in the middle-income group in emerging countries and the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Bearings are used in fan motors in air conditioners that move air into the room. This time, NSK hopes to contribute to carbon neutrality by applying an environmentally friendly bioplastic cage to this bearing.
Features of development products
●Commercialized 100% bioplastic cage for air conditioner fan motor bearing for the first time.
●Adopt digital twin technology to shorten the development cycle
●Using the digital twin analysis technology to evaluate the size, shape/deformation, defect/molding defect and strength, it is possible to make a cage with the same quality as the traditional air conditioner fan motor cage in a short time.
Bearing Evaluation Results
In addition to reliability, bearings for air-conditioning fan motors also require quietness and low friction. In the evaluation experiments related to quietness and low friction, the bearing exhibited the same performance as the bearing equipped with a traditional plastic cage, so it was judged that the bioplastic cage could replace the traditional cage.
Product effect
Compared with iron cages, plastic cages have three characteristics of light weight, low friction, and good productivity in complex shapes, and are mainly used in small bearings. Provides new value "contributing to carbon neutrality" by using bioplastic cages.
