What Are the Characteristics of Full Complement Cylindrical Roller Bearings?

A rolling bearing consists of rings, rolling elements, a cage, grease, and seals. When the rolling elements are made of ceramic materials, this rolling bearing is defined as a ceramic deep groove ball bearing.  ceramic deep groove ball bearing is typical examples of the wide application of engineering ceramics in the industrial field. Today, we will learn about the advantages and main performances of ceramic ball bearings:

Advantages of Ceramic Ball Deep Groove Bearing

(1) High Temperature Resistance

Ceramic balls have a low thermal expansion coefficient and will not expand due to temperature changes in high-temperature environments. This greatly increases the operating temperature range of the entire bearing. The maximum operating temperature of ordinary bearings is approximately 160°C, while that of ceramic deep groove ball bearing can reach over 220°C.

(2) High Rotational Speed

Ceramic balls possess oil-free self-lubricating properties and a low friction coefficient, enabling ceramic deep groove ball bearing to achieve high rotational speeds. Statistics show that the rotational speed of bearings using ceramic balls is more than 1.5 times that of ordinary bearings.

(3) Long Service Life

Ceramic balls can operate without any grease. That is to say, even if the grease dries up, the bearing can still function normally. This avoids the premature damage of ordinary bearings caused by dried-up grease. According to actual application data, the service life of bearings with ceramic balls is 2 to 3 times that of ordinary bearings.

(4) Insulation

The last and most important advantage is insulation. Bearings using ceramic balls can insulate the inner and outer rings of the bearing. Since ceramic balls are insulators, using ceramic balls between the inner and outer rings of the bearing can achieve an insulating effect. This allows the bearing to be used in conductive environments.

Performances of Ceramic Deep Groove Ball Bearings

Due to the self-lubricating property of ceramic balls themselves, during use, operations can be carried out according to specific application requirements—grease can be used or not. The use of seals and cages can also be determined based on application requirements. However, rings and rolling elements are indispensable components of ceramic ball bearings.

Common materials for ceramic balls include zirconia (ZrO₂) and silicon nitride (Si₃N₄). Common materials for rings include bearing steel (GCr1), stainless iron (440, 440C), and stainless steel (304, 316, 316L).

According to the application environment, rotational speed, load, temperature, and application requirements, the rings and rolling elements of ceramic ball bearings can be combined with the above materials to achieve different application effects. When the rings and rolling elements are made of two different materials, such bearings are called hybrid bearings. When the rolling elements are made of ceramic materials, they are defined as hybrid ceramic ball bearings.

In high-speed precision bearings, hybrid ceramic ball bearings are the most widely used. Specifically, the rolling elements are hot-pressed Si₃N₄ ceramic balls, and the bearing rings are still made of steel. These bearings have a high degree of standardization, require minimal modifications to the machine tool structure, and are easy to maintain, making them particularly suitable for high-speed operation scenarios. The high-speed electric spindles assembled with such bearings have the advantages of high speed, high rigidity, high power, and long service life.

Ceramic ball bearings are widely used in the industrial field. Different precautions should be taken when using ceramic bearings and ceramic ball bearings of different materials and structures. Specific usage precautions can be consulted before purchase, and procurement can also be conducted on Mobei Network. There are professional ceramic bearing manufacturers and distributors here, providing everyone with professional products and services.