Silicon carbide ceramics have long been recognized for their exceptional performance across a range of high-performing industries, from precision machinery to providing sterility in harsh corrosive environments – SiC ceramics excel at managing thermal stress like no other material available today.
Fluent was used in this research study to model porous aerostatic bearing capacity and static stiffness; also, effects such as shaft voltage, permeability and gas supply pressure on expected breakdown voltage were simulated.
Motståndskraft mot korrosion
Silicon carbide is a durable material with excellent corrosion resistance and chemical inertness, making it suitable for use in environments such as industrial process fluids or water environments prone to contamination, thus protecting pumps or drive systems and reducing maintenance requirements and downtime costs.
Silicon carbide sliding bearings differ from traditional metal bearings in that they don’t require lubrication for operation, making them the perfect solution for use in harsh environments and high-speed machinery. Furthermore, their non-magnetic and electrically insulating qualities make them suitable for sensitive chemical processing equipment.
As part of an experiment to evaluate SiC’s corrosion resistance, SEM and EDX analyses were performed on samples exposed to a strongly corrosive molten chloride salt solution. As seen below, corrosion penetration is very limited, due to impurities present in the solution that react with residual elemental silicon to form magnesium-Si oxides which remain close to the surface of the sample.
Long bearing lifespans translate into reduced maintenance requirements and downtime costs, saving both time and money. Ceramic material’s extreme hardness and high temperature resistance also aid in this regard, while the chemical inertness of silicon carbide helps ensure bearings don’t pollute production streams, protecting product quality while upholding production lines’ integrity.
Motståndskraft mot höga temperaturer
Silicon carbide bearings differ significantly from steel bearings in that their strength remains unwavering even at high temperatures, making them suitable for demanding environments like furnaces, kilns and reactors.
Ceramic bearings offer excellent chemical resistance, protecting them from corrosion while maintaining purity in critical process streams. Their superior chemical resistance translates to longer lifespans and reduced maintenance requirements in equipment they support.
Ceramic bearings offer many other advantages that can significantly boost industrial equipment performance, in addition to their exceptional longevity. Ceramics are extremely hard and dense, leading to greater load capacities and ensuring greater reliability; additionally, their reduced need for lubrication ensures longer lifespans.
Silicon carbide material is highly thermally conductive, helping dissipate heat faster and preventing premature wear of bearings. It ensures a consistent lubricating film at elevated temperatures for improved machine performance, further increasing productivity. Furthermore, their low coefficient of expansion reduces thermal stress-related risks, making these bearings perfect for use in high temperature applications.
Hög hållfasthet
Ceramic materials that form sic bearings are highly resilient, making them suitable for tough working environments such as pumps and industrial equipment used to transport acidic, alkaline or corrosive liquids or gases. Furthermore, sic bearings resist thermal shock – sudden changes in temperature without incurring significant damage – making them a popular choice in pumps used to transport such substances.
However, given ceramics are much harder than steel they may also be more brittle and susceptible to cracking, so selecting an appropriate cage material for your application such as polyimide, PTFE or titanium can help protect them and ensure stable performance even under harsh chemical environments.
Under extreme conditions, full ceramic (Si3N4) or angular contact ceramic (ZrO2) bearings may be best. These bearings are constructed from ceramic powder combined with metal binder and additives to increase processing properties before being formed into bearing elements through injection molding or isostatic pressing. Grooves, chamfers or any other features can be machined into their un-sintered state before manufacturing takes place.
Ceramic sliding bearings combine high strength and hardness for easier use compared to metal bearings that require much lubrication – meaning less maintenance, reduced life cycle costs and more reliable operation.
Motståndskraft mot slitage
Silicon carbide ceramic bearings boast superior wear resistance when compared to most other forms of metal bearings, being able to withstand constant use at higher temperatures without suffering damage, which enables them to last much longer than other varieties and help decrease energy loss by minimizing frictional drag.
These advantages make sic bearings an excellent choice for demanding industrial applications, including chemical and process plants that regularly interact with corrosive substances, hot and dirty water or abrasive suspensions. Silicon carbide boasts one of the highest Mohs hardness ratings at 13, third only behind diamond and boron carbide.
Silicon carbide sliding bearings are widely utilized in hermetic pumps in both petrochemical and power plants to reduce friction and increase efficiency, and have proven themselves capable of withstanding aggressive acids, alkalis, abrasive suspensions and continuous operation in high pressure, high temperature environments.
At Ceramic Solutions Group we produce an array of ceramic parts including shaft sleeves, sliding bearings, structural parts and specialty-shaped pieces. All our products can be tailored to meet customer specifications; zirconium oxide ceramic (ZrO2) and silicon carbide (SiC) bearings can withstand working temperatures of up to 1300 degC while offering superior corrosion resistance compared to more common materials like steel.
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