Ceramic Bearings Vs Steel

Most sealed ceramic bearings are actually hybrid ceramic bearings which combine a steel race with ceramic ball bearings.

Ceramic bearings vs steel.

Ceramic bearings exist to help manage heat in high rpm applications. It takes weeks for a kogel ball to sit in a tumbler and be perfectly polished. They use ceramic balls and usually a steel inner and outer race. They don t expand or deform when they contact each other hertzian stress as much as steel bearings when they get really hot.

While a formula 1 engine revving to 15 000 rpm can create a lot of heat that can deform and swell steel bearings. The concept behind a bearing is simple. The ceramic balls are often silicon nitride or equivalent. Ceramic bearings vs steel bearings ceramic materials offer superior corrosion and heat resistance higher dimensional stability and lower density which facilitates high speed.

Five different parts go into building skateboard bearings and longboard bearings. A ceramic bearing is also harder than steel bearings up to 30 which improves durability and they also don t rust so less maintenance should be required. Optimization is possible for the disparity that exists between these parts. The different elements balls retainers and closures can change a bit.

Things don t slide or roll. Steel bearings are commodity items that are composed of hardened steel balls and a steel inner and outer race. Ceramic bearings vs steel.