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Harken Materials & Properties
Aluminum
6061-T6: an aluminum alloy that has excellent corrosion resistance to air and 
salt water. It is an easily welded, tough alloy that responds well to anodizing.
7075-T6: the strongest aluminum alloy with strength comparable to many steels. Harken 
uses 7075-T6 in its Grand Prix cylinders which are built to handle extremely high loads at 
minimal weight. A vigorous maintenance schedule is required when using this alloy, 
because corrosion resistance is lower than 6061-T6. Available in hardcoat or clear-
anodized finishes.
Bearings
Bearing properties are functions of contact area, material type, bearing cages, 
and whether the bearing rolls or slides.
Types
Ball bearings: very low-friction; low/medium-load capacity.
Roller bearings: low-friction; high-load capacity.
Sleeve bearings: medium/high-friction; extremely high-load capacity.
Materials
Stainless steel is stronger than Torlon® thermoplastic and Torlon is stronger than Delrin® 
acetal resin. Because stainless is heavier and usually higher maintenance, 
Torlon is used in most high-load applications.
Contact Area
More contact between the bearing and the race increases friction, but also increases load 
capacity. Balls are loaded on small points, cylindrical rollers are loaded along their length, 
and sleeve bearings are curved around the shaft so a large portion is in contact. Unlike 
balls and cylinders, sleeves are not prone to being flattened by extreme or static loads 
because they already conform to the curvature of the shaft.
Motion (rolling, caged rolling, or sliding) 
Sliding bearings (known as sleeve, plain, full-contact, bushing, or journal bearings) are very 
high strength, but have nothing to reduce friction between contact areas. At most, they have 
a low-friction sleeve between the surfaces. Rollers and balls avoid almost all of this friction 
because they do not slide against the race, though they can come in contact with each 
other. Caged roller bearings are separated from each other to avoid this.
Caged Bearings
Caged bearings are roller bearings held in a cage that keeps them separated from 
each other and parallel to reduce friction. Caged bearings are used in winches and 
Black Magic blocks.
Captive Bearings
Captive bearings are ball bearings that are contained so they won't spill during 
product maintenance. Black Magic blocks have ball bearings held captive by the 
lip of the sheave. CB traveler cars feature ball bearings held captive by a wire guide.
Carbo
Carbo Air blocks feature lightweight, fiber-reinforced, nylon-resin sideplates with a 
60% higher MWL than stainless-reinforced Classic blocks. Lightweight fiber-reinforced 
Carbo-Cams are ideal for racing where weight is critical. The Carbo name comes from an 
additive that gives blocks their color and UV-resistance.
Carbon Black
Carbon black is a color additive used in black Delrin ball bearings, block sheaves, 
and sideplates to protect against UV exposure.
Delrin 
balls
Torlon 
balls
Stainless 
balls
Caged 
rollers
Uncaged 
rollers
Sleeve 
bearing
Roller bearing 
contact area
Ball bearing 
contact area
Caged rollers
Uncaged rollers
Delrin is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.
Torlon is a registered trademark of Solvay Advanced Polymers, L.L.C.
CB traveler
Black Magic sheave
Carbo Air block
Carbo-Cam cleat
Bearing efficiency (low-friction)
Bearing load capacity
For complete listing, see www.harken.com/glossary

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