3 Major Ball Bearings Materials

Ball bearings are a common feature in a wide range of applications, from office technology and electronics, to aerospace technology, medical machinery and packaging equipment. The bearings come in plenty of different sizes and materials, with plastic, ceramic and steel the most popular choices. Even though each of the different types of bearings consists of the same four components - the balls, a cage, an inner face and outer race - they can vary with the offered benefits and characteristics.

Here is an overview of the different ball bearing materials:

Steel
Steel is one of the most trusted materials for the ball bearing. The most durable are manufactured with all-steel parts to give long-term durability and strength. They are a practical choice for the most hard-wearing applications that involve high rotations per minute and extremely high loads. The most durable steel bearings have the ability to accept a radial load of up to 30,000 lbs. While they may be highly durable, they do have a few negative points, such as a lack of chemical resistance, noise, and weight. Plus, they are most likely to require regular lubrication to maintain the smooth operation. There are plenty of manufactures of the all-steel parts, so the cost can vary greatly and range from the low-cost to expensive.

Ceramic
The ceramic ball bearing is highly favored and popular in many industries. This is a type of hybrid bearing with the actual ball manufactured in ceramic while the other components (cage, inner race and outer race) are in steel. A benefit of using the ceramic bearing is the ability to run at a faster speed while minimizing vibration and noise, as well as maintaining a cool operating temperature.

Plus, the nonconductive nature means they are a practical choice for electrical applications or other application that need to operate at high temperature. But, a major disadvantage is the high cost of the ceramic ball bearing.

Plastic
The latest choice in the market is the plastic ball bearing which has a few advantages that aren't seen with the alternatives in steel or ceramic. Most of these bearings are manufactured with the cage and races in all-plastic, while the actual ball is in stainless steel, glass or plastic. The preferred material will depend on the specific application. A great use includes the applications that need low noise and weight. However, they do have a couple of negative points which include not being able to operate in an environment that exceeds 300� Fahrenheit or relies on high loads.

Learn more about the different type of  ball bearings in the market.




 By Leo Eigenberg



Article Source: 3 Major Ball Bearings Materials