A ceramic bearing is a rolling bearing that uses balls or other rolling elements made of ceramic instead of the metal balls used in conventional steel rolling bearings. Ceramic bearings are usually made of silicon nitride or zirconium oxide, although other materials such as aluminum oxide can also be used.
The use of ceramic as a material for the rolling elements offers several advantages over conventional steel rolling elements. For example, ceramic balls have a higher hardness, higher stiffness and lower thermal expansion than steel balls. This enables a higher operating temperature and higher speed, as well as lower friction and longer service life.
Ceramic bearings are used in many applications, especially in high-performance and precision applications such as aerospace, medical technology and the semiconductor industry. They are also used in applications where high temperatures or aggressive environmental conditions occur, such as in the chemical industry or in oil and gas extraction.
Rolling bearings with ceramic balls have special properties such as being non-magnetic or lubricant-free.
Franke also already has several plastic bearings in its range:
Slewing rings made of plastic (POM) - type LVK
Slewing rings made of plastic (POM) - type LVL
Slewing rings made of plastic (POM) - type LVM