Why Ceramics?

Extending bearing life. That’s the challenge that drives Timken Super Precision’s bearing engineers to explore new materials and processes. And, that’s what led Timken Super Precision to ceramics over ten years ago. Today, with hundreds of designs to our credit, we continue to develop solutions that use the beneficial properties of silicon nitride. Hardness. Wear resistance. Reduced lubrication requirements. Ability to withstand high temperatures. Lightweight compared to steel. Corrosion resistance. Nonmagnetic properties. 

Properties

Si₃N₄ is nearly twice as hard as bearing steels, which improves wear resistance and reduces damaging effects of repeated surface contacts.  The use of ceramic rolling elements reduces lubricant degradation, significantly increasing bearing life in many applications.  Si₃N₄ can operate at temperatures up to 1800^oF, exceeding the best high temperature bearing steels by a factor of two.  Centrifugal loading resulting from high speeds is reduced with lightweight rolling elements.  Because it is essentially inert, Si₃N₄ represents a major advance in the effort to improve bearing performance in corrosive environments.  And, without sacrificing bearing performance, Si₃N₄ provides the nonmagnetic properties demanded in some sensitive instrument applications.

Your specific requirements might best be met with full ceramic bearings, or with hybrid ceramic bearings – a combination of ceramic rolling elements with metallic races.  Each design delivers special advantages.  Each is appropriate for different uses.

Applications

In a host of applications subjected to heat, friction, high speed, water and magnetic fields, ceramic bearings may yield significant performance advantages.  Aircraft accessory, valve, transmission and gearbox.  Gas turbine mainshaft. Gimbals.  Semiconductor and food processing.  Dental handpiece turbines.  Sensitive instruments.  As the advantages of Si₃N₄’s properties have become more fully appreciated, ceramic bearings have begun to strengthen their place in these and other applications.

Why Work with Our Engineers?

The properties of Si₃N₄ differ substantially from those of bearing steels.  That makes it vital to work with Timken Super Precision engineers, experts who understand the impact of ceramic’s properties on rolling element bearing applications.  These engineers know how to find the right combination of materials that can yield substantial improvements in durability, reliability and who are knowledgeable about lubricants and mounting techniques to enhance bearing performance.

Why Timken Super Precision?

Timken Super Precision has emerged as an industry leader in applying ceramics to specialty ball bearings.  The breadth of Timken Super Precision’s manufacturing scale is clear – from concept through productions.  We manufacture thousands of hybrid and full ceramic bearings in virtually every size and type and maintain a large ceramic ball inventory.