Cast Bronze Bushings & CDA932 Sleeve Bearings
Cast Bronze Bushings & CDA932 Sleeve Bearings
High-Performance Self-Lubricating Bronze Bushing Solutions & Technologies. Minimize downtime, extend service life, and reduce costs for dynamic applications.
Cast Bronze Bushings & CDA932 Sleeve Bearings
Standard and custom-machined cast bronze bearings in CDA932 (UNS C93200 / SAE 660), plus phosphor, leaded-tin and aluminium bronzes — available as graphite-lubricated, oil-groove and solid designs.
What Are Cast Bronze Bushings?
A cast bronze bushing is a sleeve, flange or thrust washer produced from a copper-based bearing alloy. The leaded tin bronze used for our standard CDA932 bushings combines good machinability with stable sliding characteristics, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial shafts and housings. Where applications demand self-lubrication, graphite plugs are embedded into the bronze; where relubrication is practical, machined oil grooves retain grease or oil.
Bronze Bearing Material Grades
The bronze-bearing family draws on several internationally recognised alloy systems. The grades below are referenced in the source technical catalogues and foundry data sheet.
| Alloy / designation | Type | Typical use in bearings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
CDA932 / UNS C93200 / SAE 660 |
Leaded tin bronze (cast) | Standard cast bronze bushings, sleeves, washers | Good machinability & sliding wear resistance |
CuSn8 |
Phosphor bronze (strip) | Wrapped bronze bearings | High purity; wrapped & calibrated from strip |
CuSn7Zn4Pb7 |
Leaded tin bronze (continuously cast) | Solid / turned bronze bearings | ~85% Cu; machined all over; grooved for lubricant |
CuAl10Ni |
Nickel aluminium bronze | Alternative solid bearings; saltwater-capable plugs | Used with special lubricating plugs for saline service |
CuSn10, CuSn12 |
Tin bronzes (cast) | Alternative solid / casting grades | Common foundry casting bronzes |
CuZn25Al5 |
Manganese aluminium brass | Maintenance-free lubricating-plug bearings | High static-load capability; brass basis |
CuAl10Fe3Mn2, CuAl10Fe4Ni4 |
Aluminium bronzes (cast) | Casting alloys for bushings & parts | Per EN / DIN / PN foundry practice |
Foundry casting bronzes are typically produced to EN DIN PN requirements or to individual customer specifications, covering grades such as CuSn10, CuSn12, CuAl10Fe3Mn2 and CuSi3Zn3Mn1.
Technical & Performance Data
The values below are taken from the technical plain-bearing catalogue and describe the bronze-bearing families. They are presented as catalogue engineering data; final selection should follow the specific alloy, lubrication and operating conditions of your application.
| Property | Solid / turned bronze (CuSn7Zn4Pb7) | Wrapped bronze (CuSn8) | Maintenance-free, lubricating plugs (CuZn25Al5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature range | −40 to +250 °C | −100 to +200 °C | up to +300 °C* |
| Coefficient of friction | 0.08–0.15 | 0.08–0.25 | 0.03–0.16 |
| Dynamic load (N/mm²) | 25 | 40 | 100 |
| Static load (N/mm²) | 45 | 120 | 250 |
| Max. sliding speed (m/s) | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.25 |
| PV value (N/mm²·m/s) | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.34 |
| Shaft tolerance | e7–f8 | e7–f8–h6 | e7–f7–h6 |
| Housing tolerance | H7 | H7 | H7 |
| Shaft roughness Ra (µm) | ≤1.0 | ≤0.8 | ≤1.0 |
| Shaft hardness (HB) | >165 | >200 | >200 |
| Compressive strength (N/mm²) | 250 | 250 | 480 |
* Depending on material and lubricating-plug combination. Wrapped CuSn8 bearings are produced in accordance with ISO 3547; tolerances and installation guidance follow the same standard.
Graphited & Oil-Groove (Self-Lubricating) Options
For maintenance-free or contaminated service, bronze bearings are supplied with embedded graphite lubricating plugs or with machined oil grooves. Standard oil-groove styles include:
- Elliptical — even oil distribution for moderate-speed radial loads.
- Figure-8 / Double Figure-8 — dual lubrication paths for high-load or oscillating motion.
- Straight — axial / linear motion such as thrust bearings.
- Circular — radial load distribution on rotating shafts.
- Straight & Circular (combined) — multi-directional radial + axial systems.
Groove geometry is balanced against structural integrity so the self-lubricating graphite layer is not over-thinned. Special designs are defined from load, speed and environmental data.
Applications by Industry
Oil & Gas
Valves, actuators and handling equipment where contamination and load vary widely.
Mining & Construction
Excavators, lifting gear and earth-moving equipment subject to impact and vibration.
Marine & Offshore
Corrosion-resistant aluminium and tin bronzes for flood/lock gates and seawater service.
Fluid Control
Butterfly valves and pump components needing long service intervals.
Agriculture
Agricultural vehicles and machinery in dusty, abrasive conditions.
General Engineering
Elevators, hydraulics, textile and transportation machinery.
Custom Machining & Tolerances
Beyond the standard range, bronze bearings are supplied in a wide variety of materials, sizes, tolerances and designs: special grooves, recesses, non-standard fits, spherical/self-adjusting types and plastic or steel variants. Installation is performed with a press arbor; the bore contracts as the bearing is pressed in. Shaft and housing fits follow the bearing-type-specific tolerance tables in the catalogue (e.g. H7 housings, f7–h8 shafts for composite-backed types).
Why Choose Our Bronze Components
We specialise in high-quality bronze components and serve industries including oil & gas, construction, mining, fluid control, agriculture and transportation. Our focus spans technology, production, quality control and customer support — delivering top-tier products at competitive prices, on time.
Request a quote or material data sheet
Tell us your size, alloy and service conditions — we will recommend the right cast bronze bushing grade and groove design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CDA932 cast bronze?
CDA932 is the Copper Development Association designation for a leaded tin bronze internationally listed as UNS C93200 and commonly known as SAE 660 bearing bronze. It is widely used for cast bronze bushings, sleeve bearings and washers because of its machinability and sliding properties.
Which bronze alloys are used for plain bearings?
Plain-bearing bronzes include phosphor bronze CuSn8 (wrapped), continuously cast CuSn7Zn4Pb7 (solid/turned), CuAl10Ni and CuSn10/CuSn12 alternatives, and CuZn25Al5 for maintenance-free lubricating-plug bearings. Foundry casting grades such as CuSn10, CuSn12, CuAl10Fe3Mn2 and CuAl10Fe4Ni4 are also supplied.
Are graphite and oil-groove options available?
Yes. Graphited bronze bearings embed solid lubricant plugs for maintenance-free operation, while oil-groove bushings use elliptical, figure-8, straight, circular or combined groove patterns to retain lubricant in contaminated or high-load environments.
Metal Bushing (Lubricated Metal) -Self-Lubricating Bushing Materials
Bushings are specialized, self-lubricating metal components widely utilized across various industries due to their durability and low maintenance requirements. Self-lubricating metal bushings are engineered to function without additional lubrication in numerous applications, thereby minimizing maintenance needs. These bushings are available in various series and configurations, such as flanged bushings and split bearings, to meet specific application requirements.
Metal-Polymer Anti-Friction Plain Bearings
Metal-Polymer Composite Self-lubricating Bushing Material
Steel Back + Porous Bronze Sinter + PTFE
