Ceramic Bearings

Ceramic Bearings

Ceramic bearings are ball bearings with high tolerances, generally less wear due to reduced friction, and long operating lives. Ceramic bearings are smooth, hard, and nonconductive, and also feature a higher maximum rotational speed than many other bearings. Ceramic bearings are composed of materials formed from clays and other naturally-occurring minerals, or else are created from chemically-processed powders.

Ceramics are inorganic, metallic and generally have crystalline structures. Ceramics are formed from a variety of compounds, usually a metallic and a nonmetallic element, such as silicon and carbon or aluminum and oxygen (alumina). Different types of ceramics are produced by starting with a raw material and then adding other elements to create desired properties. The ceramic material is finalized when it is fired in a kiln, producing a rigid product that can then be glazed or further processed by polishing, cutting or machining.

Ceramic bearings are typically used for applications requiring temperature, corrosion and wear resistance. They can also be used as an alternative for bearings made of other materials such as metals or plastics. Because they are light and smooth but still hard, corrosion resistant, and electrically resistant, ceramic bearings can perform many different uses. Ceramic bearings also dissipate heat quickly, reducing friction and wear while maintaining a smooth surface.