German specialty chemicals producer and distributor Lehmann & Voss (Hamburg; www.lehvoss.de) has developed a combination of high-performance additives and introduced a new process to produce a range of tribologically optimised materials under the “Luvocom” XSL brand name.

The first material in the family is POM-based and has been introduced as “Luvocom” 80-8656/XSL. The company said the incorporated lubricant functions for the entire operating life of the component, with no additional greasing necessary. In the contact pairs tested to date, the system has not exhibited any running-in behaviour or stick-slip tendency that would lead to squeaking.

The material is processed on conventional injection moulding machines and is not reinforced, which means that snap connections and undercuts are possible. It is, however, possible to incorporate reinforcing materials such as glass, carbon and aramid fibres when required.