Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-11-22 Origin: Site
In the industrial field, bearings are an indispensable and important part of many machines. It not only ensures the smooth movement of equipment, but also significantly reduces friction between moving parts. In order to meet the needs of different equipment and working conditions, bearings can be subdivided into many types and models according to material, structure, size and so on. Among the many bearings types, stainless steel bearings have a high recognition degree in the market and become the first choice of many users due to their excellent performance.
So, why can stainless steel bearings be so popular?
As a professional bearing manufacturer, LNB Bearing will explore and discuss the stainless steel bearings’ features, advantages and applications and so on in this article, hoping to help users understand stainless steel bearings more comprehensively, and choose the most appropriate solution for their mechanical equipment.
Stainless steel bearings are bearings made of stainless steel material with excellent rust resistance, corrosion resistance, high machine strength and stability.
Compared with ordinary bearings, stainless steel bearings can still maintain excellent performance in wet, corrosive or high temperature and other harsh environments, they not only have obvious advantages in material, but also in the manufacturing industry and precision control is more demanding than ordinary bearings.
Because of its excellent durability and reliability, stainless steel bearings are widely used in food processing, pharmaceutical equipment, chemical machinery, marine equipment and other fields, greatly improving the safety and efficiency of the equipment operating in special environments, extending the life of the machine.
AISI 304 stainless steel mainly contains 18%-20% chromium (Cr), 8%-10.5% nickel (Ni), and a small amount of carbon (C), silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S) and other elements.
AISI 304 is the most common austenitic stainless steel, has good corrosion resistance, hardness, strength, and high temperature performance moderate, widely used in food processing equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and other requirements of good corrosion resistance occasions, and the working environment is more moderate mechanical equipment, kitchen appliances, home appliances and other applications.
AISI 316 stainless steel mainly contains 16%-18% chromium (Cr), 10%-14% nickel (Ni), 2%-3% molybdenum (Mo), as well as a small amount of carbon (C), silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S) and other elements.
AISI 316 is also a kind of austenitic stainless steel, its chemical composition contains molybdenum (Mo), which makes it has excellent corrosion resistance, especially suitable for use in chlorides, acidic environments and seawater and other environments with strong corrosion resistance.AISI 316 is widely used in the chemical industry, marine equipment, medical equipment and other occasions.
AISI 440C stainless steel mainly contains 16%-18% chromium (Cr), 0.95%-1.2% carbon (C), and a small amount of manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and other elements. Provides high hardness and good corrosion resistance.
AISI 440C stainless steel is a high-carbon, high-chromium martensitic stainless steel with very high hardness and wear resistance, and can be heat-treated to enhance performance. Despite the high wear resistance and compression resistance, its corrosion resistance is somewhat less than that of austenitic stainless steel bearings. They are usually used in environments that require high hardness and wear resistance and neutral or low corrosive environments, such as precision machinery, aerospace, automotive, and cutting tools.
Properties/Material |
AISI 440C |
AISI 316 |
AISI 304 |
Chemical Composition |
High carbon, chromium (16%-18%), low nickel, contains molybdenum |
Chromium (16%-18%), nickel (10%-14%), molybdenum |
Chromium (18%-20%), nickel (8%-10.5%) |
Hardness/Strength |
High hardness (58-60 HRC), high wear resistance |
Medium hardness, moderate strength |
Medium hardness, moderate strength |
Corrosion Resistance |
Good, but lower than AISI 316 and 304 |
Excellent, especially against chlorides and acidic environments |
Good, suitable for most non-aggressive corrosive environments |
Heat Resistance |
Fair, may oxidize at high temperatures |
Good, suitable for high-temperature environments |
Good, suitable for moderate temperature environments |
Magnetic Properties |
Magnetic |
Non-magnetic |
Non-magnetic |
Common Applications |
Precision bearings, automotive, aerospace, cutting tools, etc. |
Marine, chemical, medical, food industries, etc. |
Home appliances, chemical, food, medical industries, etc. |
304, 316 and 440 are common stainless steel materials, but in addition, there are a variety of other stainless steel alloys on the market as well as different variants, common alloys include 430, 2205, 310, 17-4PH and so on. Each stainless steel alloy has a different chemical composition and performance characteristics to meet the needs of different environments and working conditions.
For example, 430 is a ferritic stainless steel, with good corrosion resistance and processing performance, high temperature resistance is weak, mainly used in automotive and appliance shells, etc.; 2205 is a duplex stainless steel, with high strength and excellent corrosion resistance, commonly used in chemical and marine engineering, especially in the high chloride environment outstanding performance; 310 stainless steel has excellent high temperature resistance, suitable for furnace tubes, heat exchangers 310 stainless steel has excellent high-temperature resistance, suitable for furnace tubes, heat exchangers and other high-temperature environments; 17-4PH stainless steel is a precipitation hardening stainless steel, with very high strength and hardness, suitable for aerospace and high-load equipment and so on.
Overall, these stainless steel alloys offer a variety of properties in terms of strength, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, etc. through different combinations of elements to meet the needs of various industrial applications.
Austenitic stainless steel crystal structure is austenitic, characterised by face-centred cubic structure, common materials are 304, 316 stainless steel. Austenitic stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance, hygienic properties, good low temperature and so on, commonly used in chemical, food processing, medical and other requirements of corrosion resistance and good processing performance of the industry.
The crystal structure of martensitic stainless steel is martensite, characterised by a body-centred cubic structure or tetragonal lattice structure, common materials are 440C stainless steel. Martensitic stainless steel bearings have high hardness, wear resistance and strength, and can be heat-treated to improve its performance, but its corrosion resistance is relatively low, often used in cutting tools, valves, chemical equipment and other occasions that require high hardness and wear resistance, and need to be used with caution in corrosive environments.
The crystal structure of ferritic stainless steel is ferrite, characterised by a body-centred cubic structure, common materials such as 430 stainless steel. Ferritic stainless steel have better corrosion resistance and corrosion resistance, carbon content is lower than martensite, not heat treatable. Ferritic stainless steel processing is poor, but its high temperature resistance is better. Commonly used in the need for medium corrosion resistance, bearing capacity requirements of the lower environment.
Duplex stainless steel consist of two crystal structures, austenite and ferrite, so it has the advantages of two structures, namely good corrosion resistance and high strength, common materials such as 2205 stainless steel. Duplex stainless steel is typically used in applications where both corrosion resistance and strength are required, such as harsh environments in the chemical, marine and petroleum industries.
Like ordinary bearings, they can be divided into many categories according to the different structures and rolling elements. Users need to choose the right type of stainless steel bearings according to the application conditions and speed requirements and so on.
Stainless steel ball bearings use a spherical shape as the rolling body, and the contact points between the spherical rolling body and the raceway are less, which can minimise friction and is suitable for high-speed operation. According to the different structure, it can be divided into:
Used for high-speed applications, usually used in machinery requiring low noise and low vibration.
Designed to handle axial and radial loads, usually used in high precision applications such as machine tools.
Accommodate misalignments between shafts and housings and are suitable for applications where alignment problems occur.
Handle axial loads and are used in applications where axial alignment is critical.
Stainless steel roller bearings use cylindrical rollers or tapered rollers as rolling elements. Compared with ball bearings, roller bearings have a larger contact surface and can handle higher loads. According to different structures, they can be divided into:
Suitable for bearing radial and axial combined load, widely used in high-strength and corrosion-resistant environment.
With high load carrying capacity and low friction performance, designed for high load and corrosion resistance requirements.
Adopting needle rollers as rolling bodies, they have a compact structure and high load carrying capacity, and are suitable for corrosion-resistant requirements in limited spaces.
Stainless steel bearings have a lot of advantages, in comparison with the traditional chrome steel or other materials bearings, stainless steel bearings are different in materials and processes, etc. Especially when working in special environments like moisture, chemicals, etc., they can improve the reliability and smoothness of mechanical operation, extending the life of the machine.
One of the most significant benefits of stainless steel includes resistance to rust. In comparison to other steels, it's less likely to rust, even at high moisture conditions; hence, stainless steel is very suitable for outdoor facilities and areas with high humidity.
The stainless steel bearings are very resistant to corrosion, which is a characteristic that makes them do well where there is exposure to such things as chemicals or salt water, like the sea, food processing, chemicals, and so on.
It is well known that a high-temperature environment will reduce the performance of traditional bearings. However, under a high-temperature environment, many stainless steel alloys, such as AISI 310, can maintain mechanical properties and stable oxidation resistance. Therefore, stainless steel bearings are widely used in high-temperature industrial equipment, such as furnaces and heat exchangers, or in the harsh aerospace environment.
Stainless steel bearings are not susceptible to bacterial growth and are easy to clean and maintain. Specific stainless steel materials (e.g. 316L) are chemically stable and do not react with food or drugs, making them ideal for food processing, pharmaceutical instruments and medical equipment.
It has high strength and toughness to resist the mechanical load and external shock. It generally has a longer service life compared to the conventional bearings, especially under harsh conditions (e.g., high humidity, corrosive media). Due to the low-maintenance characteristics, stainless steel bearings exhibit more extended service life and reduced economic burdens caused by replacement and repair. In addition, in many cases, stainless steel bearings do not require frequent lubrication or maintenance, reducing usage and maintenance cost.
Stainless steel bearings are widely used in various industries and special environments because of their rust resistance, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, durability and excellent mechanical properties. The following are the main application areas:
Stainless steel bearings have good rust and corrosion resistance and are hygienic, meeting the strict requirements of hygiene standards in the food and beverage industry.
Stainless steel bearings have antimicrobial, hygienic and good anti-corrosion properties, can withstand high temperature sterilisation and stable operation, in line with the high standard requirements of medical equipment.
Stainless steel bearings have rust resistance and corrosion resistance, and are suitable for high humidity and corrosive environments such as humidity and salt water. Therefore, they are widely used in shipbuilding, marine engineering and offshore equipment.
Stainless steel bearings perform well in applications requiring exposure to corrosive chemicals, and some stainless steel alloys remain stable at high temperatures and under high load conditions.
Stainless steel bearings offer durability, high temperature resistance, high loads, and low maintenance for components exposed to harsh environments in the automotive and aerospace sectors.
The stainless steel bearings' resistance to rust and corrosion, toughness, and versatility keep them outstanding in difficult environments.
Compared with normal steel bearings, stainless steel bearings have higher corrosion and heat resistance but are generally a bit softer than normal steel bearings. When choosing bearings, the working conditions should be considered.
The stainless steel bearing has great rust and corrosion resistance, but under some extreme conditions of corrosion, such as strong acid or alkali, a certain amount of corrosion may still exist, so considering environmental conditions should be done during selection.
Yes, some types of stainless steel are for underwater applications, such as 316 stainless steel.
Stainless steel bearings can usually withstand operating temperatures of up to 250°C to 400°C, depending on the specific material. The temperature range should be confirmed according to the actual working conditions when selecting the bearing type.
Yes, though the material properties of stainless steel can make the bearing resistant to corrosion and high temperatures, it still requires lubrication. The stainless steel bearings require lubrication to minimize friction and extend the bearings' useful lifespan. In special applications, food-grade grease pre-filled or other special lubricants are available.
The stainless steel bearing is widely used in food processing, medical equipment, pharmaceutical machinery, chemical equipment, marine engineering, and in high-humidity or corrosive industrial environments.
