Where previously steel roller bearings were used as a matter of course, high-performance ceramics are now also finding their way. It is thanks to her that the most difficult camp situations can be solved better. With a new production technology, Ceramtec has succeeded in developing the ceramic roller bearing rollers 'Cyrol', which will make it possible to open up a wide range of fields of application for hybrid roller bearings.

While ceramic balls have already become firmly established in hybrid and all-ceramic bearings, the ceramic roller bearings are still in their infancy. So far, steel is the number one material in this area. However, conventional steel rolling bearings reach their limits when longer maintenance intervals are required and temperatures, chemical reactions and electrical insulation become a problem. So far, the high manufacturing costs for ceramic cylindrical roller bearings have deterred users, despite convincing technical arguments, to switch to new material. Ceramtec has now succeeded, under the brand name Cyrol, in developing materials and processes that can be used to mass-produce silicon nitride bearing rollers with an outstanding cost-benefit ratio.

Ceramic surpasses steel

The high wear and temperature resistance as well as the chemical resistance recommend the ceramic material especially for very high maintenance applications. But also the fact that ceramic is very low-friction and non-magnetic, also brings a low specific weight, as well as good dry-running and thus better runflat, make them the preferred material for demanding applications. The combination of specific electrical resistance and low friction allows, for example, to redefine generators and electric drive systems. The increased lubricant life is also a strong argument for grease-lubricated systems.

This results in completely new fields of application. Silicon nitride is the key to long-term success wherever wind turbine maintenance costs and costs are reduced or generators are used: in wind turbines or tidal power plants, in printing presses, textile industry, chemical industry, mining, high-speed spindles or electric drivelines in vehicles. In some cases, silicon nitride rolling elements make certain applications possible in the first place.

From the powder to the final product

The production process for silicon nitride bearing rollers, which has been developed from years of development work, meets the requirements and wishes of the constantly growing high-end market. To meet the demand, the ceramics specialist set up a new production line for the production of ceramic castors with the highest material and geometry requirements. The deciding factor for the ultimately marketable price-performance ratio is the fact that the production line is designed for medium to high volumes and not for individual parts. The cylindrical rollers are sorted according to the customer's requirements, according to diameter and length and the required quantities, so that the finished silicon nitride bearing rollers can be installed immediately.

Ceramtec already manufactures bearing rollers in various shapes from cylindrical to conical. The product range will be expanded to include barrel rollers in the near future. All manufactured molds meet and exceed even the highest demands of the storage industry, which is why it is expected that these products will soon be used in a growing number of applications.