For several years, industrial electric motors have been typically made to run on steel ball bearings.
People find it challenging to implement an alternative means when one has been relied on for the longest time. Sometimes, it doesn't even matter if the alternative option is more innovative and offers more performance than the traditionally accepted one.
The same can be said about ceramic ball bearings and steel ball bearings. Although, steel ball bearings have been continuously deployed in motors for several generations. It may be time to try out a better alternative which is ceramic ball bearings if your steel ball bearings are operating at a high temperature or requiring replacements too frequently.
When considering key factors like cost and longevity, it is not hard to see which is more superior between steel ball bearings and their ceramic hybrid counterparts. The rest of this write-up will compare the specifications of these two kinds of ball bearings and the factors that differentiate them from one another. Let's get right into it.
Summarized Differences between steel bearings and ceramic bearings:
| Steel bearings | Ceramic bearings |
| Cheaper in short-run | Cost-effective in the long run |
| Exposes motors to dangers like electrical arcing | Resistant to electric current |
| Exposed to corrosion | Rust resistant |
| Reduced longevity as they are exposed to damages in the races due | Lasts up to ten times as much as steel bearings |
| Lower cage friction but higher rolling friction (even with lubrication) | Lower rolling friction but higher cage friction |
1. Rust resistance:
Even with regular lubrication, steel ball bearings endure rust. Ceramic bearings, on the other hand, are completely resistant to corrosion. Therefore, they minimize the likelihood of motor downtime and bearing breakdown. Ceramic hybrid ball bearings are designed to withstand extreme conditions without fracturing or chipping.
2. Minimized friction:
High-grade ceramic balls are usually fabricated to be smoother, rounder, and lighter than steel ones. Motors with ceramic ball bearings can operate more efficiently since its incorporation minimizes the friction by up to 40%. With this, the machine can also operate faster since the lightness of the bearing relieves the load on other related components. Besides, the superior smoothness of ceramic ball surfaces makes them require lesser lubrication than steel bearings.
3. Resistance to electrical current:
The bearings to be used in an electric motor controlled by a variable frequency drive, tend to have a preferable resistance to electrical current. Occurrences like electrical arcing can be prevented in motor with ceramic bearings installed as opposed to steel bearings.
4. Longevity:
Based on longevity, ceramic ball bearings may last up to ten times as much as steel bearings would in the same motor. Compared to steel bearings, ceramic balls are less prone to expansions and vibrations. Besides, the smoother finishes of ceramic bearings prevent damages to the races that may otherwise occur in steel bearings.
5. Cost:
Steel bearings are not as costly as ceramic bearings, but when you consider the superior service of the latter, it comes off as the better option. The higher expense of ceramic bearings can be excused due to their durable performance.
The choice of the best components passes through in-depth knowledge of the materials! Put yourself in the hands of our bearing experts to make the best choice for your application.