Ceramic Balls

Ceramic balls are rolling, spherical elements that are used in check and ball valves, bearings, and other mechanical devices that provide rotary or linear motion. Like other ceramic products, they are made from inorganic, nonmetallic materials that are processed or used at high temperatures. Outer diameter (OD) or width is an important physical specification to consider. Many ceramic balls feature a highly controlled geometry and an extremely smooth surface finish. Precision grinding removes cuts, scratches, scuffs, and other breaks in surface continuity. Processes such as hot isostatic pressing (HIP) are used to create products with a pore-free microstructure and micron-sized grains. Many ceramic balls exhibit much greater hardness than steel balls, resulting in longer life and improved reliability. Ceramic balls can also provide higher stiffness, lower thermal expansion, lighter weight, increased corrosion resistance, and higher electrical resistance than comparable steel products.

Ceramic balls are made from many different types of materials. Alumina, a compound that consists of aluminum and oxygen, is used widely because of its versatility and low cost. Typically, alumina is used in the alpha alumina structural form or combined with other materials to form alumina-silicon carbide, alumina-zirconia, aluminum nitride, and aluminum silicates such as sillimanite and fibrolite. Boron carbide has a higher hardness than alumina or silicon carbide (SiC), a dense compound with a relatively high thermal shock resistance compared to other ceramics. Cubic boron nitride (CBN) is second only to diamond in terms of hardness. By contrast, hexagonal boron is structurally weak and best suited for use as a high temperature lubricant. Other materials in ceramic balls include compounds that contain aluminum, carbon, calcium, magnesium, titanium, tungsten, and zirconia. Examples include calcium aluminate, cordierite, dolomite, graphite, kaolin, magnesia, metal boride, mullite, porcelain, sapphire, silicon nitride, spinel, steatite, titanium carbide, tungsten carbide, and zircon.

Ceramic balls are available with a variety or material features. Sintered or fused materials are homogenous ceramics in which individual grains or crystals are bonded together without binders or cements, except for small traces of dopants or sintering aids. Single-crystal ceramics provide piezoelectric, optical or magnetic properties that cannot be attained with polycrystalline materials. Electrical insulators and dielectric materials are also available. Typically, the ceramic materials that are used in high frequency applications have a low dielectric constant and small loss tangent. Glazed ceramic balls are used in applications that require superior resistance to chemicals or water. Machinable ceramics can be worked in the green, glass, or finished state without excessive chipping. Porous ceramics have a large number open pores and provide a thermal barrier. Reticulated foam refractories are useful in filtering molten metals and providing an extremely low density structure.

Ceramic balls are used in a variety of industries and applications. Some products are used electrical, electronic, radio frequency (RF) or microwave products. Others are used in foundries or chemical and material processing applications. Single-crystal ceramics, transparent ceramics, sapphire and quartz are used in optical and semiconductor applications. Wear resistant ceramic balls are used in automotive rings, pump parts, faucet discs, and industrial dies.

• Great balls of ceramic
  Torrington Wearever hybrid ball bearings come in a wide range of sizes. SpeedVac's centrifugal concentrator uses hybrid ceramic ball bearings from New Hampshire Ball Bearings. Ceramic balls run cooler...
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• Great balls of ceramic
  Torrington Wearever hybrid ball bearings come in a wide range of sizes. SpeedVac's centrifugal concentrator uses hybrid ceramic ball bearings from New Hampshire Ball Bearings. The surface finishes of...
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• Advanced bearings for high-speed machining
  Optimized spindle-bearing systems run faster without unwanted vibration or heat.    The Timken Co.    Coventry, England    The Timken Co. Â...
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Part Numbers for Ceramic Balls