Ceramic Balls
We supply extremely high-quality ceramic balls & ceramic bearings made from silicon nitride, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and sapphire, with quality levels up to grade 3 and with virtually any diameter according to customer specifications.
High-quality precision ceramic balls are made from various ceramic materials that offer high wear resistance, temperature resistance, hardness, and/or corrosion resistance. They are used as rolling elements in bearings, valves, pumps, or other applications that require high accuracy and reliability. There are various types of ceramic balls, such as zirconium oxide (ZrO2), silicon nitride (Si3N4), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), sapphire, or ruby.
Ceramic balls have many applications in various industries and fields. Some examples include: Precision bearings, hybrid bearings, ball screw drives, spindles, vacuum pumps, and other mechanical components in the automotive, aerospace, marine engineering, and electronics industries. Surface deburring, grinding of powders, pigments, paints, coatings, and other materials in the ceramics, glass, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Electrical switches, sensors, measuring instruments, medical devices, prostheses, and other applications that require high electrical, thermal, or biological resistance.
Ceramic balls have several advantages over steel balls, such as:
- Lower density and higher hardness, resulting in a smaller contact area, less friction, higher rotational speeds, and lower energy loss.
- High wear resistance, temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance, leading to a longer service life of bearings and lubricants.
- Lower rolling resistance and reduced heat generation, resulting in better performance and efficiency.
Contact us directly with your ball requirements:
Agnès Verbole +49-202-40 43 51
verbole(at)quick-ohm.de
Comparison Table of Materials
| Item | Unit | Si3N4 | ZrO2 | Al2O3 (99,5%) | SiC | Steel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | g/cm³ | 3.23 | 6.05 | 3.92 | 3.12 | 7.85 |
| Water Absorption | % | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion | 10-6/K | 3.2 | 10.5 | 8.5 | 3 | 12.5 |
| Modulus of Elasticity | GPa | 300 | 210 | 340 | 440 | 208 |
| Poisson's Ratio | / | 0.26 | 0.3 | 0.22 | 0.17 | 0.3 |
| Hardness (Hv) | / | 1500 | 1200 | 1650 | 2800 | 700 |
| Flexural Strength (R.T.) | MPa | 720 | 950 | 310 | 390 | 520 |
| Flexural Strength (700 °C) | MPa | 450 | 210 | 230 | 380 | / |
| Compressive Strength (R.T.) | MPa | 2300 | 2000 | 2200 | 1800 | / |
| Fracture Toughness, Klc | MPa·m1/2 | 6.2 | 10 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 25 |
| Thermal Conductivity (R.T.) | W/m·K | 25 | 2 | 26 | 120 | 40 |
| Electrical Resistivity (R.T.) | Ω·mm²/m | 1013 | >1015 | >1016 | >103 | 0.1 - 1 |
| Max. Use Temperature (no loading) | °C | 1050 | 750 | 1750 | 1550 | 300 |
| Corrosion Resistance | / | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Poor |
Dimensional and Form Accuracy According to ISO DIN 5401: 2002-08
| Grade | Ball Diameter Deviation |
Deviation from Sphericity | Surface Roughness | Lot Diameter Deviation | IG ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VDwS | tDWS | Ra | VDwL | ||
| µm max. | µm max. | µm max. | µm max. | µm | |
| G3 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.010 | 0.13 | 0.5 |
| G5 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.014 | 0.25 | 1 |
| G10 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.020 | 0.5 | 1 |
| G16 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.025 | 0.8 | 2 |
| G20 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.032 | 1 | 2 |
| G24 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.040 | 1.2 | 2 |
| G28 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.050 | 1.4 | 2 |
| G40 | 1 | 1 | 0.060 | 2 | 4 |
| G60 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.080 | 3 | 6 |
| G100 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 0.100 | 5 | 10 |
| G200 | 5 | 5 | 0.150 | 10 | 15 |
