Product Description
Self-Lubricating Silicon Nitride Balls: Reducing Friction Without
Grease
In the world of advanced machinery and precision engineering,
reducing friction is a top priority. Traditional bearings often
rely on grease or oil for lubrication, but what if there was a way
to eliminate the need for these substances? Enter self-lubricating
silicon nitride balls. These innovative components are
revolutionizing industries by reducing friction without the use of
grease, offering significant advantages in terms of durability,
efficiency, and environmental impact.
Silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramic balls are a marvel of modern
material science. Made from silicon nitride powder and refined at
high temperatures, these balls are known for their exceptional
properties:
- High Strength and Wear Resistance: Silicon nitride balls boast high strength, making them resistant
to wear and tear, which is crucial for high-speed operations.
- Temperature and Corrosion Resistance: With a high resistance to temperature fluctuations and corrosion,
they are suitable for a wide range of environments, including
chemical and high-temperature applications.
- Lightweight: With a density of only 3.2 g/cm³, they are less than half the
weight of steel, reducing the centrifugal force during operation.
- Self-Lubricating: Most notably, these balls have self-lubricating properties, which
means they can operate efficiently without the need for additional
lubricants like grease or oil.
Silicon nitride balls are ideal for high-speed applications due to
their lightweight nature and reduced centrifugal force. This allows
for higher limit speeds compared to traditional steel balls, making
them perfect for industries that require rapid and precise
movements, such as aerospace and electronics.
The durability of silicon nitride balls translates to a longer
service life, often more than five times that of steel ball
bearings. This longevity reduces the frequency of replacements and
maintenance, leading to lower operational costs.
These ceramic balls have a small coefficient of thermal expansion,
meaning they are less affected by temperature changes. This makes
them suitable for use in extreme temperature environments, from the
cold of space to the heat of industrial furnaces.
By eliminating the need for grease or oil, silicon nitride balls
reduce the risk of contamination in high-vacuum or high-cleanliness
environments. This is particularly beneficial in industries like
semiconductor manufacturing and food processing, where
contamination can lead to significant issues.
Silicon nitride balls exhibit excellent resistance to acids,
alkalis, and other corrosive chemicals, making them suitable for
use in harsh chemical environments. This property is especially
valuable in the chemical industry, where equipment is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances.
The unique properties of silicon nitride balls make them suitable
for a variety of applications across several industries:
- Aerospace: Used in aircraft engines and gyroscopes, silicon nitride balls
provide reliability and reduced maintenance needs in critical
systems.
- Automotive: In electric vehicles, they are used in electric motors and hybrid
bearings to enhance efficiency and lifespan.
- Industrial Manufacturing: Essential in semiconductor manufacturing and metalworking tools,
they ensure smooth operations under high-speed and low-lubrication
conditions.
- Renewable Energy: In wind turbines, they handle large loads and stresses, offering
durability and reducing downtime.
When comparing silicon nitride balls to traditional steel balls,
several key differences emerge:
- Hardness and Wear Resistance: Silicon nitride balls have a hardness of about 1500 HV,
significantly higher than steel, providing superior wear
resistance.
- Density: With a density of 3.2 g/cm³ compared to steel's 7.8 g/cm³,
silicon nitride balls reduce the overall weight of the bearing
assembly.
- Thermal Expansion: The low thermal expansion coefficient of silicon nitride (3.4 x
10⁶/K) compared to steel (12.5 x 10⁶/K) makes it more stable under
temperature variations.
- Corrosion Resistance: Silicon nitride balls offer high resistance to corrosion, unlike
steel, which can rust and degrade over time.
While silicon nitride balls offer numerous advantages, they are not
without challenges. They may not perform well in highly acidic
environments where they could generate flammable hydrogen gas.
Therefore, it's crucial to evaluate the specific needs of each
application to determine if Si3N4 ceramic balls are the right
choice.
| Property | Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) | Steel (440C) | Zirconia (ZrO2) | Alumina (Al2O3) |
|---|
| Density (g/cm³) | 3.2 | 7.8 | 6.0 | 3.9 |
| Hardness (HV) | 1,400–1,600 | 700–900 | 1,200–1,300 | 1,500–1,800 |
| Fracture Toughness (MPa·m½) | 6–7 | 15–20 | 7–10 | 3–4 |
| Compressive Strength (GPa) | 2.5–3.5 | 2.0–2.5 | 2.0–2.3 | 2.0–3.0 |
●Description:
Silicon Nitride Ceramic Ball is the most ideal bearing ball for
bearing applications, due to the excellent properties of silicon
nitride ceramics, it has many irreplaceable advantages comparing to
traditional steel materials, such as: high mechanical strength, low
wear loss, good self-lubrication, low density, high corrosion
resistance, good electrical insulation etc.
Therefore, Silicon Nitride Balls are mostly used for some harsh
working conditions: high speed/super speed bearings, high precision
bearings, bearings in vacuum, high/low temperature bearings.
Moreover, Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls can also used as valve ball
or measurement balls in chemical pumps/high temperature
pumps/metdering pumps.
●Physical Properties:
Chemical Composition: | Si3N4≥95% |
Bulk Density: | 3.2±0.05g/cm3 |
Elastic Modulus: | 350GPa |
Hardness Vickers: | 1870HV |
Bending Strength: | 780MPa |
Fracture Toughness: | 7.2MPa·m1/2 |
Thermal Expansion Coefficient: | 3.2 10-6/K |
Thermal Conductivity: | 25W/(m·K) |
● Ball Sizes/Grade :
Size (mm) | Φ0.8-180 |
Grade | Vdws | SPH | Vdwl | Ra |
G3 | 0.05-0.08 | ≤0.08 | <0.13 | 0.01 |
G5 | 0.08-0.13 | ≤0.13 | <0.25 | 0.014 |
G10 | 0.15-0.25 | ≤0.25 | <0.5 | 0.02 |
G16 | 0.2-0.4 | ≤0.4 | <0.8 | <0.025 |
G20 | 0.3-0.5 | ≤0.5 | <1 | <0.032 |
G100 | 0.4-0.7 | 0.4-0.7 | <1.4 | <0.0105 |
Factory equipment
Exhibition & Partner
Case
Ship to South Korea
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FAQ
1. What sizes and tolerances are available?
Diameter range: 0.5mm to 50mm (custom sizes possible).
Sphericity: As low as 0.1µm (Grade 5 for ultra-precision bearings).
Surface finish: Ra < 0.02µm (mirror polish for low friction).
2. Are silicon nitride balls FDA-approved for medical use?
Yes! Si3N4 is biocompatible (ISO 6474-1) and used in spinal implants, dental devices, and joint
replacements due to its antibacterial properties.
3. How do I choose the right Si3N4 balls for my application?
Consider:
Load & speed requirements (dynamic/static stress).
Temperature range (Si3N4 excels in high heat).
Chemical exposure (resistant to most acids/alkalis).
Electrical insulation needs (non-conductive).
