--- title: Polymer Impellers Fight Cavitation Wear In Pumps and Hydraulic Systems description: Cavitation wear and salt corrosion destroy metal Impellers - Fiber-filled Phenolic Impellers are prone to abrasion. Read about Intech impellers. --- 250 Herbert Avenue Closter, New Jersey 07624 U.S.A. 1-877-218-2650 [![intech.power.logo.Power of knowledge.](https://www.intechpower.com/hs-fs/hubfs/intech.power.logo.Power%20of%20knowledge..jpg?length=300&name=intech.power.logo.Power%20of%20knowledge..jpg "intech.power.logo.Power of knowledge.") ](https://www.intechpower.com/) [![Browse Our Products](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/62516/08b25f71-daf5-4226-916d-2693bd171a1d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/62516/08b25f71-daf5-4226-916d-2693bd171a1d) [![Browse Our Products](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/62516/08b25f71-daf5-4226-916d-2693bd171a1d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/62516/08b25f71-daf5-4226-916d-2693bd171a1d) April 15, 2013 # Polymer Impellers Fight Cavitation Wear In Pumps and Hydraulic Systems Written by [Alexander Bartosch](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/author/alexander-bartosch) ![Intech Cavitation Free Impeller](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)You might not think that bubbles are much of threat to solid surfaces. But engineers who have encountered cavitation wear know otherwise. Common within pumps, valves and hydraulic components, [cavitation](https://www.intechpower.com/pump-impellers/) occurs when sudden changes in liquid pressure create voids or bubbles. Typically, these bubbles form in response to and in close proximity to moving surfaces within a liquid medium. When the bubbles eventually collapse, they generate enough energy to induce a pitting-type wear on nearby surfaces. This wear doesn’t happen instantly, since the energy released by the collapsing bubbles is relatively low. Over time, however, the collapsing bubbles do produce localized, cyclic impacts that can fatigue even the strongest of steel surfaces. A [pump impeller](https://www.intechpower.com/pump-impellers/) is a classic example of a moving component that can both cause cavitation—and suffer the consequences of cavitation wear. **Polymers resist cavitation wear.** It may be counterintuitive, but polymers can actually do a better job than seemingly stronger metals when it comes to enduring cavitation wear. The reason is that inherent elasticity of polymers allows them to absorb the energy released by the collapsing bubbles. Yet, not all polymers should be considered a good fit for applications that suffer from cavitation wear. Keep in mind that cavitation implies a continuous exposure to liquid. And many types of polymers simply will not tolerate liquid exposure for long periods of time—not without dimensional changes or degradation in physical properties. One polymer that can tolerate the long-term exposure to many types of liquids is the [polyamide that serves as the base polymer for Intech Power-Core™](https://www.intechpower.com/material-information/). We’ve theorized for years that it would be an outstanding choice for pump impellers, hydraulic valves and other components that are subject to cavitation wear. ![Intech Impellers Cavitation wear Study](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Recently, we backed up our theories with cavitation tests that compared Power-Core to various chromium-nickel alloy steels under conditions that simulate those found in high-pressure pumps. The results show that the steel alloy loses significant weight over time, which is an indication of the pitting caused by cavitation. The Power-Core, by contrast, exhibits no weight loss, or wear, whatsoever. To learn more about cavitation wear, download our application note, “A Polymer Solution To Cavitation Wear Problems.” [![Download Our Cavitation Case Study](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/62516/db8c8499-58dd-4c8d-b5b6-1715c187629f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/62516/db8c8499-58dd-4c8d-b5b6-1715c187629f) Tag(s): [Cavitation Free impellers](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/tag/cavitation-free-impellers) , [Cavitaion](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/tag/cavitaion) , [Corrosion](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/tag/corrosion) , [Impeller wear](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/tag/impeller-wear) [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/113741/polymer-impellers-fight-cavitation-wear-in-pumps-and-hydraulic-systems](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/113741/polymer-impellers-fight-cavitation-wear-in-pumps-and-hydraulic-systems) [PA12GC](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/tag/pa12gc) ** 2 minute read | February 20, 2014 ## [Large Cast Power-Core (TM) Propeller Dives Into Paper Pulp Mixing](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/117281/large-cast-nylon-12-propeller-dives-into-paper-pulp-mixing) Most engineering polymers won’t stand up to the harsh conditions found inside the mixing tanks used in pulp and paper... [Read More](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/117281/large-cast-nylon-12-propeller-dives-into-paper-pulp-mixing) [cam followers](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/tag/cam-followers) ** 3 minute read | October 1, 2012 ## [Plastics Improve Roller and Cam Follower Performance](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/109333/plastics-improve-roller-and-cam-follower-performance) [Read More](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/109333/plastics-improve-roller-and-cam-follower-performance) [Food Safe Rollers](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/tag/food-safe-rollers) ** 2 minute read | January 9, 2014 ## [Food safe Cam Followers Substitue Stainless Steel in Food Processing](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/118213/food-safe-cam-followers-substitue-stainless-steel-in-food-processing) Food and beverage machinery is not always the most hospitable place for motion components such as rollers, gears and... [Read More](https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/118213/food-safe-cam-followers-substitue-stainless-steel-in-food-processing) ## Subscribe to email updates Copyright © 2026 Intech Corporation. All Rights Reserved. [Site Map](https://www.intechpower.com/sitemap) [Privacy Policy](https://www.intechpower.com/privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Alexander Bartosch" }, "dateModified" : "September 9, 2021, 3:09:32 PM", "datePublished" : "2013-04-15 04:00:00", "description" : "Cavitation wear and salt corrosion destroy metal Impellers - Fiber-filled Phenolic Impellers are prone to abrasion. Read about Intech impellers.", "headline" : "Polymer Impellers Fight Cavitation Wear In Pumps and Hydraulic Systems", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.intechpower.com/blog/blog/bid/113741/polymer-impellers-fight-cavitation-wear-in-pumps-and-hydraulic-systems", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "http://cdn1.hubspot.com/hub/62516/INTECH.LOGO.JPG" }, "name" : "Intech Corporation" } } ```