Silicon nitride is
a strong, tough, lightweight ceramic material ideal for structural applications
such as rolling elements for bearing assemblies. Silicon nitride has been used in
hybrid ball bearings and offers the following advantages:
- Higher reliability at high speeds and loads
- Higher stiffness
- Reduced friction
- Electrical insulator
- Non-magnetic
- Can run with reduced lubrication
Ceradyne manufactures silicon nitride balls for ball bearing and check
valve applications, and rollers
for rolling bearing applications.