forces in motion
Maurer
Skip to main content

Spherical bearings

MAURER spherical bearings have a spherical segment and a horizontal sliding plane. The load bearing capacity (> 250 MN), displacement (> +/- 1500 mm) and rotation capacity (< 0.26 radian) are extremely large. Two MSM® sliding planes are installed horizontally between the individual bearing components, which keeps friction and rotation resistance to a minimum during any bearing motion and prevents structural fatigue.

MAURER spherical bearings in conformance with EN 1337, designations

Figures in brackets correspond to designation in EN 1337-1
Free-sliding KGa (3.5)
Guided sliding KGe (3.3), KGeq (3.4)
Fixed Kf (3.1, 3.2)

MSM® sliding material in spherical bearings or other sliding bearing elements

MSM® (MAURER Sliding Material) is a high-performance sliding material developed by MAURER for structural bearings utilizing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with improved sliding and outstanding properties:

  • Extremely high performance thanks to high load-bearing capacity with twice as high permissible compression when compared with PTFE
  • Working temperature range of -50°C to +80°C
  • PFAS-free (PFAS: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
  • Service life of 50 years with low coefficient of friction (< 2%) and minimum wear with total slide paths of more than 50 km
  • Suitable for high velocity displacements of 20 mm/s in service and over 1 m/s during earthquakes
  • No reclaim / fillers and no polluting components such as fluorine or chlorine
  • Not sensitive to chemical contamination and ageing
  • CE marking of MAURER MSM® spherical and cylindrical bearings in conformance with European Technical Assessment ETA-06/0131

MSA® Sliding Alloy

MSA® is the abbreviation for MAURER Sliding Alloy, a metallic sliding alloy developed by MAURER for use in spherical and cylindrical bearings as a mating surface for the MSM® sliding material.

The corrosion-resistant alloy and the special surface treatment result in an improved property profile for MSA® when compared with the conventional, hard-chromium-plated spherical surfaces.

  • Reduction in surface tolerances and therefore no wear
  • Service life of 50 years
  • Corrosion-resistant and maintenance-free
  • Suitable for all climatic zones from -50°C to +80°C
  • CE marking of MAURER MSM® sliding bearings with MSA® puck according to European Technical Assessment ETA-06/0131