Ceramic ball bearings use ceramic balls instead of steel balls, making them lighter, harder and more durable. They are ideal for high speeds and harsh environments such as aerospace and medical applications. Ceramic ball bearings are high performance components used in harsh environments where traditional steel bearings may fail. They can spin faster than steel balls without generating as much heat, making them ideal for high-speed machinery and electric motors. The lightweight and non-magnetic properties of ceramic ball bearings also make them ideal for aerospace applications. Collectively, they offer superior performance compared to traditional steel bearings in many different applications. Ceramic ball bearings can be divided into full ceramic ball bearings and hybrid ceramic ball bearings.
Full ceramic ball bearings are ball bearings made entirely of ceramic materials. Inner/outer rings and balls are made of silicon nitride (Si3N4) or zirconia (ZrO2). They are available fully loaded (without cage) or with cages made of PEEK or PTFE. Full ceramic bearings are suitable for medium loads and medium to high speed applications. Because it can be used in extremely harsh environments and special circumstances, it is suitable for aviation, navigation, petroleum, chemical industry, automobile, electronic equipment, metallurgy, electric power, textile, medical equipment, vacuum equipment, and military fields.
Hybrid ceramic ball bearings have steel races and ceramic balls. Ceramic balls are suitable for applications requiring high loads, high speeds and extreme temperatures. Long life and minimal lubrication requirements make this material suitable for extreme applications. Ceramic is non-porous, non-magnetic, non-corrosive and lighter than steel. In spherical form, ceramic balls are also harder than steel, and since ceramic balls are non-porous, they have almost no friction and are able to spin faster than steel balls.
Since ceramic is a glass-like surface, it has an extremely low coefficient of friction, making it ideal for applications seeking to reduce friction. Ceramic balls require less lubrication and are harder than steel balls, which will help extend bearing life. Thermal performance is better than steel balls, so less heat is generated at high speeds.
Ceramic ball bearings offer advantages such as protection against arcing, reduced wear and operating temperatures, and extended service life and grease life. They are durable, wear resistant and run cooler than steel bearings. They are an excellent choice for enhancing equipment performance and minimizing maintenance costs.
1. Compared with standard steel bearings, it has higher hardness and better elasticity.
2. Full ceramic bearings can run completely dry.
3. Excellent corrosion resistance makes them run in concentrated acid, concentrated alkali or immersed in seawater without corrosion.
4. More adaptable to temperature changes.
5. The service life of all ceramic bearings is much longer than that of steel bearings.
6. Prevent arcing. The natural insulating properties of ceramic materials eliminate this type of damage.
Our stock commodity ceramic ball bearings are open end meaning there are no seals and cage construction made of PTFE. The function of the cage is to separate the space between the rolling elements. The main advantage of PTFE cages is chemical resistance. Our stock commodity ceramic ball bearings can be used in temperatures up to 200 degrees.
For vacuum applications we recommend choosing cages made of PEEK (polyetherketone). This material is known for its low particle generation and does not outgas in a vacuum.
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Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) – Excellent fracture toughness at high temperatures and thermal shock resistance
Zirconia oxide (ZrO2) – Extremely strong and tough
Silicon Carbide (SiC) – Lightweight material with high corrosion resistance and excellent heat resistance
Alumina Oxide (Al2O3) – The most widely used ceramic
Si3N4, or silicon nitride, is a very hard yet lightweight ceramic material. Si3N4 has excellent resistance to water, salt water and many acids and bases. It also has a very wide temperature range and is suitable for high vacuum applications. The extreme hardness of silicon nitride also means greater brittleness, so impact/impact loading should be minimized to avoid the risk of cracking. The weight of Si3N4 bearings is only about 40% of that of steel bearings. Ceramic Silicon Nitride Miniature Bearings Cageless Silicon nitride ceramic bearings have high hardness, very smooth wear surfaces and can run without lubrication, so they are often used where very low rotational resistance is important. Their coefficient of friction is very low compared to steel bearings or even hybrid bearings. Si3N4 bearings have a coefficient of friction of approximately 0.001 in lightly loaded air at ambient temperature. Unlike zirconia, silicon nitride has a low coefficient of expansion, so care should be taken when selecting a suitable shaft for high temperature applications, as steel shafts expand much more than silicon nitride inner rings, which can lead to ring fracture. Also, the steel housing expands much more than the silicon nitride outer ring, resulting in a looser fit at high temperatures.
ZrO2. The thermal expansion and density of zirconia is closer to that of steel. Other technical ceramics have good thermal shock resistance. Best used at low loads and moderate speeds, zirconia bearings are used in high temperature and highly corrosive applications. Zirconia ceramic bearings have high strength, high toughness, wear resistance, high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, high rigidity, non-magnetic, and electrical insulation at room temperature. At 600°C, the strength and hardness of zirconia ceramic balls are almost constant, the density is 6.00g/cm3, and the thermal expansion coefficient is close to that of metal. If the expansion coefficient is close, it can be used for bonding with metal.
Silicon carbide (SiC) is a lightweight ceramic material with high strength properties comparable to diamond. It has excellent thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and is resistant to acid corrosion. Silicon carbide is an excellent ceramic material for applications requiring good erosion and wear resistance. Silicon carbide is an ideal material for seals and bearings. It has good corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength at high temperature and good wear resistance.
Alumina (Al2O3) ceramic balls are resistant to most corrosive materials except hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids or strongly alkaline solutions. Alumina is non-porous, lighter than steel, and spherically harder than steel. Because ceramic balls are non-porous, they have little friction and are able to spin faster than steel balls.
Standard 99.5% alumina ceramic balls have proven performance in abrasive, high temperature and corrosive environments, as well as maintaining dimensional stability at elevated temperatures. Alumina spheres are resistant to oxidation, water, salt solutions and many chemical acids.
Standard 99.5% alumina ceramic balls have proven performance in abrasive, high temperature and corrosive environments and maintain dimensional stability at temperatures up to 2000 F. Alumina resists oxidation and is resistant to water, salt solutions, and many chemicals and acids
The standard radial clearance of AUB's ceramic ball bearings complies with class C0. Like traditional steel ball bearings, ceramic ball bearings can also achieve C3 class radial clearance. Whether your application requires C3 or C5 radial clearance, please contact us for more details.
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