Burnished bearings increase performance in critical applications

NKE Austria presents burnished bearings with improved running-in and wear behavior. The browning also protects against environmental influences. This is a cost-effective measure for extending the service life, particularly in critical applications such as, for example, the gearboxes of wind turbines.

The blackening is a protective coating on iron or steel parts. In this case, the surface of the treated components is converted by means of a multi-stage, chemical process in a 1 to 2 micron thin mixed oxide layer, which causes the typical black color. Burnished rolling bearing components have special technical properties, especially when they have a relative movement against each other. A multiple protective effect comes already with individual burnished elements, mostly rolling elements, to bear. However, the best result is achieved when all functional surfaces of a rolling bearing, ie inner and outer ring as well as the rolling elements, are burnished.

Bearings for everyone in over 60 industries

In practice, blackening has proved its worth especially with cylindrical roller bearings (full complement or with cage), for example for large or main gearboxes of wind turbines. Depending on the application, however, other bearing types are burnished.