Desirable Properties of Bearing Materials When the surfaces of bearing are separated by a fluid film, the bearing materials do not have any effect on its operation so long as the parts have sufficient strength to withstand the imposed loads and sufficient rigidity to maintain alignment.

The design characteristics of plastic and non-metallic bearings bear both similarities and differences relative to those of porous-metal bearings. This will now be described in greater detail. 2.0 Properties of Plastic and Non-Metallic Bearing Materials.