Sputter bearings are among the key components of modern high-performance engines. Rising combustion pressures, higher specific loads, and the demand for maximum reliability are continuously increasing the demands placed on connecting rod and main bearings. For engine manufacturers and system developers, choosing the right bearing material is therefore a decisive factor in the performance, service life, and operational reliability of their systems.
What is essential here is not just the maximum load-bearing capacity of the bearing material. Modern engine designs require bearing solutions that are precisely tailored to the respective operating conditions and continue to function reliably even under dynamic load cycles.
Companies looking for an alternative to KS sputter bearings are therefore increasingly evaluating not only material properties but also factors such as design expertise, development support and the ability to provide customized solutions for specific applications.
This is precisely where our customers can benefit from Miba’s many years of experience.
When selecting a suitable bearing, factors such as
should be taken into account in addition to the material properties alone. Only the interplay of these factors determines how successfully a bearing solution can be used in practice.
To better classify the various material concepts, the following overview compares selected KS materials with corresponding Miba materials. The comparison shows which material solutions are available for high-load applications and where Miba stands out as a high-performance alternative.
| KS Product | Alloy | Miba Alternative |
| A51 | AlSn12Si2,5 | Miba 15 / Miba 1E |
| R20 | AlSn20Cu | Miba 15 / Miba 1E |
| R21 | AlSn20Cu | Miba 15 / Miba 1E |
| R25 | AlSn20Cu2 | Miba 15 / Miba 1E |
| R30 | AlSn15Cu2 | Miba 15 / Miba 1E |
| R55Q | AlSn6Si2Cu1 | Miba 1A |
| R55 | AlSn6Si2Cu1 | Miba 1A |
| R53 | AlSn6Si4 | Miba 15 / Miba 1E |
| R45 | AlZn5Bi3Si1,5Cu1 | Miba 29 |
| S203 | CuSn4,5Zn0,8Ni0,6Ag0,4 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| S203D | CuSn4,5Zn0,8Ni0,6Ag0,4 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| S203W | CuSn4,5Zn0,8Ni0,6Ag0,4 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| X20V | CuZn20Al2 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| AS15 | AlSn20Cu1 | Miba 14 |
| S213L1 | CuSn5Zn1 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| S213W | CuSn5Zn1 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| S213D | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G | |
| X10 | CuZn31Si | |
| X20 | CuZn20Al2Mn2Ni2Fe1,5 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| S830 | CuSn10 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| S85 | CuSn10Bi8 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
| S803 | CuSn10Bi8Zn3 | Miba 6K / 6G /4B / 3H / 3G |
High-stress engines place unique demands on their bearing assemblies. That’s why there’s rarely a standard solution that’s the optimal choice for every application. What matters most is combining the right material with the correct bearing design and a deep understanding of the operating conditions.
This is exactly where Miba comes in. By closely integrating material development, application engineering and validation, we create bearing solutions that can be specifically tailored to the requirements of each application. Extensive simulation capabilities, along with state-of-the-art test bench and testing facilities, enable us to evaluate and optimize bearing designs under realistic conditions even during the development phase. Customers benefit from decades of experience with demanding engine applications as well as a broad portfolio of high-performance bearing materials, including modern sputtering technologies.
This results in solutions that deliver high load-carrying capacity, reliability, and long service life—even under demanding operating conditions. Our experts would be happy to advise you on selecting the right bearing for your application