Ceramic Bearings Vs Steel

While a formula 1 engine revving to 15 000 rpm can create a lot of heat that can deform and swell steel bearings.

Ceramic bearings vs steel.

The first thing that strikes the eye when looking at bicycle bearings is the difference in price between steel bearings and hybrid ceramic bearings. They use ceramic balls and usually a steel inner and outer race. Ceramic bearings vs steel. The different elements balls retainers and closures can change a bit.

Ceramic bearings vs steel bearings ceramic materials offer superior corrosion and heat resistance higher dimensional stability and lower density which facilitates high speed. 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. It takes weeks for a kogel ball to sit in a tumbler and be perfectly polished. Optimization is possible for the disparity that exists between these parts.

Most sealed ceramic bearings are actually hybrid ceramic bearings which combine a steel race with ceramic ball bearings. Ceramic bearings are in actual fact hybrid. This is mostly due to the additional time spent to perfect a quality ceramic ball. The ceramic balls are often silicon nitride or equivalent.

The concept behind a bearing is simple. Steel bearings are commodity items that are composed of hardened steel balls and 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.