All you want to know about bearing rust

time2021/09/28

: All you want to know about bearing rust: the reason why bearing rust happens, four prevention methods and what should I do if my bearing is rusty.

All you want to know about bearing rust

Why does it happen?

Bearing steel, the main raw material for bearings is the steel used to make balls, needles, rollers, and inner and outer rings of bearings. Bearing steel is also called high-carbon steel, with a carbon content of about 1%. Due to the carbon content, when encountering moisture and corrosive liquids in the use environment, it will react with the carbon content and produce rust spots. This is what everyone calls rust.

The main reasons for rust spots are as follows:

1. Humidity

When the humidity of the operating environment is too high, it is very easy to cause the surface of the bearing to contact the water vapor evaporated in the air, and it is easy to cause the bearing to rust.

2. Direct contact

When installing the bearing, the installer directly touches the bearing without gloves. Especially in the hot summer period, the corrosive substances produced by hand sweat adhere to the bearing, which will cause the bearing to produce fingerprints and rust spots.

3. Oxygen

Most of the rust on the bearing surface reacts with oxygen and rust occurs.

Is the imported bearing not rusty?

Imported bearings will also rust, because the raw material is carbon steel, which contains carbon content, and rust spots will also occur when encountering moisture and corrosive liquids. As long as you pay attention to the cause of the rust spots, you can avoid the rust phenomenon.

How can the bearing be rust-proof? Prevention method

1. Wear gloves when installing bearings

When installing the bearing, avoid direct contact with the bearing with your hands. The fingers will secrete corrosive acid substances, which will cause the bearing to rust. Wearing gloves can prevent rust.

2. Apply an anti-rust agent or lubricating oil or grease to the bearing surface. The surface application method is the most effective method, and its main principle is to isolate it from contact with air. For short-term rust prevention, rust inhibitors, lubricants, etc. can be used. For long-term rust prevention, a thin layer of grease can be applied to the bearing surface, because the grease is solid and has poor fluidity, and can adhere to the bearing surface for a long time.

3. Control humidity Control the humidity of the use environment within a certain range, especially in the season with relatively high humidity.

4. Select stainless steel bearings. If used in a clean room, it is recommended to use stainless steel bearings.

What should I do if my bearing is rusty? How to deal with it

Bearing rust is generally due to rust on the bearing surface. The rust can be removed, and rust inhibitor or grease can be applied to continue using it.

Does not affect bearing performance.

Rust spot removal method: 1. Remove oil stains and stains on the bearing surface; 2. Use rust remover to spray or smear the rusty place, let it stand for a few minutes and wipe with a dry cloth to remove the rust spots; 3. In the case of severe rust, You can use fine-grained sandpaper to polish and then clean; 4. Clean the bearing after removing rust spots, and apply rust inhibitor or grease after drying.