It’s all About Trade-offsBecause customer funds are not unlimited and components are needed quickly, a huge part of materials selection is typically to nail down the appropriate trade-offs related to cost and availability of materials. That is, to help customers choose the material that provides the required lifespan at the lowest cost, igus has expanded its range of materials options. These blends are also available in other products, such as barstock, linear guides, spherical bearings, cable carriers and components for automation assemblies. Hyde notes that strength-to-weight ratio, wear resistance and also thermal stability are primarily determined by chemical composition and the microstructure that forms during heat treatment. Looking at the wear resistance needed for valve components and seals that undergo millions of cycles, Emberger says the materials choice range is large.