Sleeve bearings are commonly made of which material?

Sleeve bearings are commonly made of which material?

• A. Bronze
• B. Brass
• C. Stainless steel
• D. Aluminum

Answer: (A)

For sleeve bearings, the material needs to resist wear, tolerate embedded debris, and work well with a lubricating film. Bronze fits that role best because bronze alloys, such as tin bronze, offer good hardness and wear resistance while remaining forgiving to surface scuffing or small particles that may get into the bearing. They also embed contaminants rather than propagating scoring, and they hold lubrication effectively, helping to prevent seizure under varying loads and speeds. Stainless steel is strong but can be prone to galling and isn’t as forgiving in a lubricated bearing surface, while aluminum is lighter and cheaper but wears more quickly under bearing loads. Brass is softer and wears faster than bronze, making bronze the more reliable choice for long-lasting sleeve bearings.

For sleeve bearings, the material needs to resist wear, tolerate embedded debris, and work well with a lubricating film. Bronze fits that role best because bronze alloys, such as tin bronze, offer good hardness and wear resistance while remaining forgiving to surface scuffing or small particles that may get into the bearing. They also embed contaminants rather than propagating scoring, and they hold lubrication effectively, helping to prevent seizure under varying loads and speeds. Stainless steel is strong but can be prone to galling and isn’t as forgiving in a lubricated bearing surface, while aluminum is lighter and cheaper but wears more quickly under bearing loads. Brass is softer and wears faster than bronze, making bronze the more reliable choice for long-lasting sleeve bearings.