SAE 841 Sintered Bronze Thrust Washers - Oil-Impregnated

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Part #	I.D.	O.D.	Length	Qty	Request Quote

SAE 841 is highlighted below as the stocking alloy for Sintered Bronze Thrust Washers.

Property	C95400	C93200	C86300
Material Identification
Material Type	Cast Aluminum Bronze	Cast High Leaded Tin Bronze	Cast Manganese Bronze
ASTM Specification	B505	B505	B505
SAE Equivalent	J461, J462	SAE 660	SAE 430B
Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength	85,000 PSI min	35,000 PSI min	110,000 PSI min
Yield Strength	32,000 PSI min	20,000 PSI min	60,000 PSI min
Elongation	12% min	10% min	12% min
Hardness (Brinell)	170 typical	65 typical	225 typical
Machinability	60%	70%	80%
Physical Properties
Density	7.45 g/cm³	8.91 g/cm³	7.83 g/cm³
Chemistry
Copper (Cu)	83.0% min	81.0–85.0%	60.0–66.0%
Tin (Sn)	—	6.3–7.5%	—
Lead (Pb)	—	6.0–8.0%	—
Zinc (Zn)	—	1.0–4.0%	22.0–28.0%
Aluminum (Al)	10.0–11.5%	—	5.0–7.5%
Iron (Fe)	3.0–5.0%	—	2.0–4.0%
Manganese (Mn)	—	—	2.5–5.0%

Property	SAE 841	SAE 863
Material Identification
Material Type	Oil-Impregnated Sintered Bronze	Oil-Impregnated Sintered Iron-Copper
ASTM Specification	B438 Grade 1 Type II	B439 Grade 4
Self-Lubricating	Yes	Yes
Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength	14,000 PSI	22,000 PSI
Yield Strength	11,000 PSI	22,000 PSI
Elongation	1%	1%
Apparent Hardness	Rockwell H-45	Rockwell F-35
K Strength Constant	26,500	30,000
Physical Properties
Density	6.4–6.8 g/cm³	5.8–6.2 g/cm³
Porosity (oil by volume)	19% min	19% min
Chemistry
Copper (Cu)	Balance	18–22%
Tin (Sn)	9.5–10.5%	—
Iron (Fe)	1.0% max	Balance
Carbon/Graphite (C)	0.3% max	0.3% max
Equivalent Standards
ASTM	B438-13 Grade 1 Type II	B439-12 Grade 4
MPIF	CT-1000-K26	FC-2000-K30
Military	MIL-B-5687D Type 1 Grade 1	MIL-B-5687D Type 2 Grade 4

Pumps & Fluid Handling

Centrifugal pump impeller assemblies, gear pump end plates, hydraulic pump shaft supports, and submersible pump motor mounts. Thrust washers absorb the axial forces generated by rotating impellers—forces that would otherwise push shafts out of alignment. SAE 841's self-lubricating properties are critical in pump applications where the pumped fluid provides some lubrication but not enough to eliminate metal-to-metal contact. Oil-impregnated sintered bronze maintains its lubrication even during dry-start conditions.

Electric Motors & Generators

Fractional horsepower motor end bells, fan motor shaft ends, blower motor assemblies, and small generator shaft supports. Electric motors generate axial thrust from magnetic forces and shaft float. Thrust washers positioned at shaft ends prevent rotor displacement while maintaining the precise air gap between rotor and stator. SAE 841's low friction coefficient (approximately 0.05-0.15) keeps parasitic losses minimal—important for motor efficiency ratings.

Gearboxes & Power Transmission

Speed reducer thrust faces, gear shaft end-play control, worm gear thrust surfaces, and power take-off assemblies. Helical gears generate significant axial thrust during torque transmission. Thrust washers absorb these forces while maintaining gear mesh alignment. With a PV rating of 50,000 and speeds up to 1,200 SFM, SAE 841 handles the load-speed combinations typical of industrial gearboxes. The self-lubricating property extends service intervals in sealed gearbox housings.

Automotive & Transportation

Transmission gear spacers, differential thrust surfaces, steering column supports, and power window motor assemblies. Automotive thrust washers see intermittent operation with occasional high loads—exactly the duty cycle where oil-impregnated bronze excels. During idle periods, oil wicks back into the porous structure. At startup, the oil releases to provide immediate lubrication before hydrodynamic film develops. Temperature stability from 10°F to 220°F covers both cold-start conditions and under-hood heat.

Industrial Machinery & Conveyors

Conveyor head pulley shaft ends, winch drum assemblies, indexing table drives, and rotary valve shaft supports. Industrial equipment demands maintenance-free operation over extended shifts. Thrust washers in conveyor drives absorb the axial component of belt tension while the sleeve bearing handles radial loads. SAE 841's approximately 20% oil content by volume provides a self-contained lubricant supply—no grease fittings, no scheduled re-lubrication, no production downtime for maintenance.

Agricultural & Construction Equipment

Tractor PTO shaft assemblies, combine header drives, excavator slew ring supports, and loader arm pivot points. Off-highway equipment operates in dusty, dirty environments where external lubrication attracts contamination. Oil-impregnated bronze thrust washers deliver maintenance-free performance without exposed grease that traps abrasives. Seasonal equipment benefits particularly—stored tractors and combines start up reliably after months of idle time because the oil remains in the bearing structure.

Custom Pressed to Your Specifications

For production quantities requiring non-standard dimensions, we can create sintered bronze thrust washers pressed to your exact specifications. The powder metallurgy process compacts oil-impregnated bronze powder into a custom die, then sinters at high temperature to bond the particles while preserving the porous, self-lubricating structure.

Process Overview

Custom tooling created from your specifications
Bronze powder compacted under high pressure
Sintering bonds particles without liquefying
Oil impregnation fills interconnected pores
Finished parts maintain consistent density and self-lubricating properties

Best Suited For

Production volumes where tooling cost can be amortized
Applications requiring specific ID, OD, or thickness combinations
Designs needing consistent part-to-part repeatability

Machined from Sintered Bronze Disc Stock

For lower quantities, prototypes, or one-off requirements, we machine custom thrust washers from oil-impregnated sintered bronze disc stock. The disc stock is manufactured through the same powder metallurgy process and arrives pre-impregnated with lubricating oil, maintaining the self-lubricating properties in your finished part.

Advantages

No tooling investment required
Custom ID, OD, and thickness without dedicated tooling
Faster turnaround than custom pressing
Ideal for prototypes and short production runs

Frequently Asked Questions

Expert answers to common technical questions about sintered bronze thrust washers.

When should I choose SAE 841 sintered bronze thrust washers over cast bronze?

SAE 841 is the right choice when you need self-lubricating performance for axial loads without external lubrication systems. It handles dynamic loads up to 2,000 PSI and static loads up to 8,000 PSI, with speeds up to 1,200 SFM and a PV limit of 50,000.

For heavier dynamic loads or applications requiring oil grooves machined into the face, cast bronze thrust washers offer more customization options.

What are the load, speed, and PV limits for SAE 841 thrust washers?

Maximum dynamic load is 2,000 PSI. Maximum static load is 8,000 PSI. Maximum surface velocity is 1,200 SFM. The PV limit (pressure × velocity) is 50,000.

These values are for continuous rotation applications. For intermittent operation, actual limits may be higher depending on duty cycle.

What temperature range is SAE 841 rated for?

SAE 841 sintered bronze operates effectively from 10°F to 220°F under normal loading conditions. Below 10°F, the impregnated oil viscosity increases significantly. Above 220°F, the oil begins to thin and may migrate from the pores, reducing lubrication effectiveness.

For high-temperature thrust applications, consider graphite-plugged cast bronze thrust washers as an alternative.

Can I use SAE 841 thrust washers with hardened steel thrust surfaces?

Yes, and it's recommended. For best performance, the mating thrust surface should be steel with at least 0.4% carbon (SAE 1137, 1141, or similar) with a surface finish of 8-16 RMS. Finishes of 4-10 RMS provide optimal performance.

Soft steel or zinc/cadmium plated surfaces should be avoided as they can gall and damage the bearing surface. Stainless steel works if you use the 400 series heat-treated to maximum hardness; avoid the 300 series.

Sintered Bronze Thrust Washers | SAE 841

Self-lubricating. Oil-impregnated per ASTM B438. Standard sizes in stock.

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