Product Description

Extreme Hardness (HV 1400-1600) Silicon Nitride for Abrasion Resistance: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding Silicon Nitride's Hardness

Key Properties of Silicon Nitride

• High Wear Resistance: Silicon nitride's extreme hardness makes it highly resistant to wear, making it ideal for applications that involve mechanical agitation or small-particle abrasion.
• High Strength and Ductility: Despite being a ceramic, silicon nitride exhibits high strength and ductility, allowing it to withstand significant stress without cracking.
• Thermal and Chemical Stability: Silicon nitride maintains its hardness and strength at high temperatures and is chemically inert, making it suitable for use in harsh environments.
• Lightweight: At only 40% the weight of steel, silicon nitride offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, advantageous for applications where weight is a concern.

Applications of Silicon Nitride

1. Automotive and Aerospace Industries

• Engine Components: Silicon nitride is used in engine components such as cam rollers and valve balls due to its ability to withstand high temperatures and mechanical stress.
• Bearings and Seals: Its low friction and high wear resistance make it ideal for bearings and seals in high-speed applications.

2. Manufacturing and Tooling

• Milling Media and Nozzles: The material's hardness allows it to be used in milling media and nozzles, where it can endure the harsh conditions of material processing.
• Welding Jigs and Fixtures: Silicon nitride is used in welding jigs and fixtures due to its high temperature stability and resistance to thermal shock.

3. Electronics and Electrical Insulation

• Electrical Insulators: With excellent dielectric properties, silicon nitride is used in electrical insulators to prevent electrical discharge.
• Telemetry Tools: Its lightweight and durable nature make it suitable for use in telemetry tools and measuring wheels.

Silicon Nitride vs. Other Ceramics

Advantages Over Traditional Materials

• Design Flexibility: Silicon nitride provides a high degree of design freedom, allowing for complex shapes and close tolerances without the need for extensive machining.
• Reduced Wear and Tear: Its wear resistance extends the lifespan of components, reducing maintenance costs and downtime.
• Enhanced Performance in Extreme Environments: Silicon nitride's ability to retain its properties at high temperatures and resist chemical attack makes it ideal for extreme environments.

●Description:

Silicon Nitride Ceramic Ball is the most ideal bearing ball for bearing applications, due to the excellent properties of silicon nitride ceramics, it has many irreplaceable advantages comparing to traditional steel materials, such as: high mechanical strength, low wear loss, good self-lubrication, low density, high corrosion resistance, good electrical insulation etc.

Therefore, Silicon Nitride Balls are mostly used for some harsh working conditions: high speed/super speed bearings, high precision bearings, bearings in vacuum, high/low temperature bearings.

Moreover, Silicon Nitride Ceramic Balls can also used as valve ball or measurement balls in chemical pumps/high temperature pumps/metdering pumps.

●Physical Properties:

● Ball Sizes/Grade :

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FAQ

1. What sizes and tolerances are available?

• Diameter range: 0.5mm to 50mm (custom sizes possible).

• Sphericity: As low as 0.1µm (Grade 5 for ultra-precision bearings).

• Surface finish: Ra < 0.02µm (mirror polish for low friction).

2. Are silicon nitride balls FDA-approved for medical use?

Yes! Si3N4 is biocompatible (ISO 6474-1) and used in spinal implants, dental devices, and joint replacements due to its antibacterial properties.

3. How do I choose the right Si3N4 balls for my application?

Consider:

• Load & speed requirements (dynamic/static stress).

• Temperature range (Si3N4 excels in high heat).

• Chemical exposure (resistant to most acids/alkalis).

• Electrical insulation needs (non-conductive).