Silicon nitride has an excellent combination of strength, hardness, toughness, corrosion resistance, high temperature capability, and low weight that make it useful for many applications involving high contact stress sliding or rolling contact, corrosive chemicals, or high temperatures. ENCERATEC has developed several successful high-production-volume applications utilizing these unique characteristics.
For an example of the improved wear performance offered by silicon nitride, click here
Key Benefits |
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No adhesive wear against steel |
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Twice as hard as tool steel |
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60% less weight than steel |
Some of our applications include: |
(Click on an application for more details) |
ENCERATEC is the largest supplier of silicon nitride ball blanks to the North American and European precision ball finishing industry. The Toshiba TSN-03NH grade silicon nitride is considered by the bearing industry to be an industry standard due to its high level of performance and quality, a standard to which other silicon nitride materials aspire.
Credits: NASA ŠAris Multimedia Entertainment, Inc. 1991-3
This material is used by the largest bearing companies in the world, including FAG, Barden, SKF, and Koyo Seiko. It is the only material to be approved for use in ball and roller bearings in NASA's space shuttle main engine high pressure liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen turbopumps - one of the most severe applications ever developed for rolling element bearings. Toshiba TSN-03NH is certified to meet ASTM F2094 Class I requirements, the highest industry classification for silicon nitride bearing materials. It also helped the Thrust SSC car achieve its record-breaking Mach 1+ land speed run by allowing the wheel bearings to operate reliably at over 480,000 dN.
More "down-to-earth" applications include bearings for:
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Machine tool spindles |
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Computer hard disk drives |
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Turbomolecular vacuum pumps |
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High performance bicycles and inline skates |
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Aircraft APU's and starter motor/generators |
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Food processing equipment |
Silicon nitride balls have also been used extensively as check balls in high pressure or corrosive fluid systems. Most major diesel fuel systems manufacturers are using silicon nitride check balls today. The light weight, lack of adhesive wear, and corrosion resistance of this material results in less wear of both the ball and the check-valve seat, thereby reducing leakage.
ENCERATEC can supply ball blanks from 1mm to 2-1/4" diameter, roller blanks, and bearing race blanks as well as custom manufactured components.
If your application involves high rolling or sliding contact stresses, this material can handle the load. Check the links listed below for a ball finisher to supply your finished ball requirements. Contact ENCERATEC directly for ball, race and roller blanks.
Bearing Companies Ball Finishing Companies Hybrid Bearing Applications