Ceramic Ball Bearings Vs Steel

Once you have a considerable amount of mileage on a bearing set it is safe to think that the high quality bearing runs close to how you bought it and a basic bearing is closer to the end of it s life span.

Ceramic ball bearings vs steel.

Ceramic hybrid bearings use silicon nitride as it is the hardest and frequently used. Ceramic bearings vs steel bearings ceramic materials offer superior corrosion and heat resistance higher dimensional stability and lower density which facilitates high speed. The hybrid comes from the races which remain of stainless steel. Stainless steel bearings win the prize for load and speed ratings.

This means that the overall friction reduction between a high quality steel bearing and a ceramic is below 0 5. Of the different components of a bearing races cages seals grease friction from the actual ball bearings is only about 3. They will both also cope with higher temperatures than chrome steel but ceramic bearings also win here. Silicon nitride zirconium dioxide and silicon carbide are the materials used in the manufacture of ceramic ball bearings.

The ceramic balls are often silicon nitride or equivalent. Frictional differences between a high quality steel ball and a ceramic is a 10 15 improvement at best. Cost of purchase for ceramic and steel bearings. Steel bearings are commodity items that are composed of hardened steel balls and a steel inner and outer race.

Stainless steel bearings and full ceramic bearings are both corrosion resistant but the ceramic bearings have greater corrosion resistance. Ceramic bearings are in actual fact hybrid. The ceramic balls when manufactured by a top quality bearing manufacturer are rounder lighter and smoother than steel balls. This reduces friction by up to 40 as well as energy loss allowing your equipment to run more efficiently with ceramic ball bearings.