Silicon nitride ceramic balls deliver impressive load capacities, high-speed performance and chemical resistance while requiring minimal lubrication – an ideal combination for demanding industrial applications.
Silicon nitride bearings are known for their exceptional properties, such as lower centrifugal forces during high-speed rotations and four to 25 times longer lifespan than their steel counterparts. Their low thermal expansion also enables them to handle temperature fluctuations without suffering damage.
High-Speed Performance
Bearings are an integral component in many devices and machines, helping reduce friction while supporting loads and smoothing movement of parts. Utilizing ceramic materials like zirconium dioxide or silicon nitride has proven highly advantageous both in terms of performance and reliability.
Ceramics are hard and resilient materials, enabling them to withstand high speeds without wear or pitting, with excellent thermal properties which allow them to function in different temperatures without losing integrity and accuracy. Furthermore, their electrical insulating properties make ceramics suitable for applications which need insulation against electrical arcing or current leakage.
Ceramic materials have long been popularly utilized in applications requiring precision and stability, such as metal-forming tools and fixtures, scissors, knives, slitters, wire drawing rings and tweezers. Zirconium oxide in particular lends itself well to these applications due to its anti-corrosion/antimicrobial qualities as it can perform in harsh environments without degradation.
CeramicSpeed Full Hybrid Bearings are an impressive example of ceramic’s performance in harsh environments, boasting zirconium dioxide bearing rings for ease of design and silicon nitride ceramic balls for low friction and exceptional resistance. Furthermore, tests conducted using ball-to-disc tribological tests in liquid nitride have demonstrated that hybrid bearings exhibit significantly lower centrifugal forces than all-steel 9Crl8 stainless steel bearings due to superior heat dissipation properties as well as lower contact pressure than their metallic counterparts.
Chemical Resistance
Silicon nitride, commonly referred to as Si3N4, is an extremely hard and light ceramic material with excellent corrosion resistance, capable of withstanding various acids (except hydrofluoric acid) and alkalis as well as radiation exposure. Furthermore, the material boasts excellent thermal shock resistance up to 800degC for use in marine applications as well as environments involving frequent temperature shifts.
Silicon nitride offers similar mechanical toughness and hardness as zirconia, yet is more flexible, making it suitable for applications involving vibration and shock. Furthermore, this material absorbs vast amounts of energy without cracking or deforming, making it suitable for high-speed applications.
Material should also be resistant to corrosion and wear, essential in high-load applications. With low surface roughness, this material reduces rolling contact fatigue and wear while also being less damaging than other ceramic materials when it comes to spalling failure modes.
Si3N4 ceramic balls come in an assortment of sizes. For instance, one 0.5-inch diameter Si3N4 ball features a tolerance of +-0.000010″, making it suitable for precision applications and lighter than steel balls – helping reduce centrifugal forces and increase speed. High precision balls also work great as high temperature applications because they maintain strength even under extreme conditions and resist corrosion.
Motstandsdyktighet mot høye temperaturer
Zirconia ceramic bearings offer superior resistance to high temperatures compared to steel ones, being up to 10 times more resistant to temperature variations and capable of running longer under heavier loads. Furthermore, these ceramic bearings perform better at lower temperatures and don’t expand as much when heated allowing them to function in various ambient environments.
Silicon nitride is an extremely hard and light material which resists corrosion from water, saltwater and various acids and alkalis. With an extremely wide operating temperature range and suitable for high vacuum applications, silicon nitride bearings offer incredible wear resistance but must be handled carefully to avoid impact or shock loads that could potentially break them.
Both ceramic types provide superior electrical insulation and magnetic field resistance, and are far quieter and lighter than steel when it comes to noise reduction and vibration reduction in an application.
We carry fully ceramic imperial-sized bearings made of zirconium oxide ZrO2, with cages made of PTFE or 316 stainless steel from 3mm to 50mm with shaft sizes between 3mm and 50mm and cage materials ranging from PTFE or stainless steel. In addition, we stock hybrid ceramic bearings made from silicon nitride (Si3N4) for shaft sizes 1mm up to 50mm for shafts between 1mm and 50mm; please see products variants for further information below or our blog for our blog articles related to ceramics!
Low Friction
Full ceramic bearings feature low friction levels to minimize energy loss and protect equipment from the damaging heat generated by heat exposure, increasing its longevity. They’re also resistant to high temperatures and corrosion – perfect for environments which would quickly degrade metallic bearings.
Zirconium oxide ceramics are known for being strong and tough materials that can withstand impacts without cracking, making them suitable for high impact situations and mechanical shock. Furthermore, these ceramics can be easily polished allowing for finer surface finishes and precise applications. When exposed to stress the material undergoes a transformation toughening process which prevents cracks from spreading further while actually making it stronger at stressed areas.
Silicon nitride ceramics are electrically insulating and suitable for operation in vacuum environments, while their lower rate of thermal expansion reduces bearing stress resulting from temperature variations.
Zirconia or silicon nitride ceramic bearings may be an excellent choice for your application, given their superior resistance to temperature extremes, chemical vapors and gases, reduced noise emissions, faster speeds with less abrasion/vibration and no need for lubrication – these materials also offer superior noise abatement capabilities compared to steel alternatives. A hybrid ceramic ball consisting of zirconium rings with silicon nitride balls may offer even greater performance advantages as these hybrid bearings are easier to design/manage/ cost less while offering improved performance compared to steel alternatives.
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