Ceramic Bearing Rollers Silicon Nitride Si3N4

For Needles, Cylindrical Rollers, Tapered Rollers and Spherical Rollers.

Silicon nitride Si3N4 ceramic bearing rollers are a type of rolling element used in various high-performance bearings. They are made from silicon nitride, a ceramic material known for its exceptional mechanical properties, resistance to wear, corrosion, and thermal shock. Ortech meets the technical silicon nitride roller bearing materials and geometries according to the ASTM F2730/F2730M Standard.

Ceramic bearing rollers outperform traditional steel rollers.

Here are some key features and benefits of silicon nitride ceramic bearing rollers:

•High Hardness: Silicon nitride ceramic rollers have excellent hardness, outperform traditional all-steel rollers. This property enables them to withstand high contact pressures and resist deformation, resulting in improved durability and extended bearing life.

•Low Friction: Ceramic rollers exhibit lower friction coefficients compared to steel and reducing energy losses due to friction and enhancing the overall efficiency of the bearing. This property helps in reducing heat generation and improving operating conditions.

•Lightweight: Silicon nitride ceramic rollers are 58% lighter than steel. The reduced weight contributes to lower centrifugal forces and allows for higher operational speeds without compromising stability or generating excessive heat.

•High Temperature Resistance: Ceramic rollers have excellent thermal properties and can withstand high operating temperatures without significant degradation. They have a low coefficient of thermal expansion, meaning they maintain their shape and dimensions under varying temperature conditions.

•Corrosion Resistance: Silicon nitride is highly resistant to corrosion and chemical attack, making ceramic rollers suitable for extreme special environments.

•Electrical Insulation: Unlike metal rollers, silicon nitride ceramic rollers are electrically insulating. This property is beneficial in applications where electrical conductivity needs to be avoided in certain industrial processes or in electrically sensitive equipment.

•Reduced Lubrication: Ceramic rollers have a self-lubricating property due to their ability to retain oil on their surfaces. This characteristic allows for reduced lubrication requirements, resulting in lower maintenance costs and improved operational efficiency.

Silicon nitride ceramic bearing rollers applications

In a wide range of industries including aerospace, automotive, medical equipment, precision machinery, and high-speed rotating equipment. They are commonly used in high-performance hybrid ceramic bearings, where the rolling elements are made of ceramic and the bearing rings are typically made of steel.

Rollers Processing

Ortech bearing rollers are produced utilizing high-purity raw silicon nitride materials with highly controlled milling preparation to guarantee consistent chemistry and particle size. Ortech manufacturing processes include:

•Spray drying for flowability and packing density

•Forming to uniform compaction

•Pre-firing to remove binders

•Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) densification for proper microstructure development — resulting in greater hardness, toughness, and less rolling contact fatigue

•Lapping for consistent very accurate cylindrical surfaces finish

•Quality control – Ortech Rollers undergo an intensive final inspection including ISO9000-2015 certification to ensure high- quality products, on-time delivery, and exceptional service.

Properties of Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄)

Hybrid cylindrical ceramic roller bearings