Complete Analysis on The Difference between Ceramic Material Bearings and Conventional Bearings

The performance comparison of ordinary bearing steel AISI52100 (GCr15), stainless steel AISI440 (9Cr18), silicon nitride (Si3N4), and zirconia (ZrO2) four kinds of bearing materials, ceramic bearing as an important mechanical basic part. Because of its metal-bearing unmatched excellent performance, high-temperature resistance, super strength, etc. It dominates the world of new materials.

Most ceramic material bearings are not made of ceramic materials from the outer ring to the rolling elements. But they are mixed with other materials to form a finished bearing.

Ceramic Hybrid Bearings have Steel races and Ceramic Balls. Ceramic Balls are suitable for applications where high loads, high speeds, and extreme temperatures are factors. Long life and the need for minimal lubrication make this material appropriate for extreme applications. Ceramic is non-porous, non-magnetic, noncorrosive, and lighter than steel. In ball form, ceramic balls are also harder than steel. And because ceramic balls are non-porous they are virtually frictionless and capable of spinning faster than steel balls.

Advantages of ceramic material bearings:

• Since ceramics are almost not afraid of corrosion. Ceramic rolling bearings are suitable for operation under harsh conditions full of corrosive media.
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• Because the density of the ceramic rolling ball is lower than that of steel, and the weight is much lighter, that can reduce 40% of the centrifugal effect of the outer ring during rotation. And the ceramic material can extend the service life greatly.
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• The impact due to thermal expansion and contraction of ceramic material is smaller than steel. So when the bearing gap is constant, the bearing can work in an environment where the temperature difference changes more drastically.
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• Since the elastic modulus of ceramic is higher than that of steel. It is not easy to deform when subjected to force, so it is beneficial to increase the working speed and achieve higher accuracy.
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• Disadvantages of ceramic material bearings:

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  • Difficult to process and high cost.

• The fatigue life of all-ceramic bearings can be 10-50 times longer than that of all-steel bearings. Hybrid ceramic bearings have about 3-5 times longer life than all-steel bearings. In terms of service life, ceramic bearings are much higher than metal bearings.

• The friction coefficient of ceramic bearings is low, so its lubricating ability is still not lower than the traditional lubricants.
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• The rigidity of ceramic bearings is greater than that of metal bearings, the elastic modulus of ceramic materials is higher, and its rigidity is 15-20% greater than that of ordinary steel bearings.
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• Compared with metal bearings, ceramic bearings are more resistant to corrosion and abrasion. Because of the different materials of its own, it directly causes the corrosion resistance and wears resistance of ceramic bearings to be better than that of metal bearings.