Ceramic Bearings Application

Full ceramic bearing applications space and satellites.

Ceramic bearings application.

Ceramic bearing applications space exploration applications and other aerospace industry products often rely on ceramic bearings. Hybrid bearings ceramic steel or chrome the following are the basic properties of hybrid bearings figure 3. The lightweight and vacuum compatible bearings make them ideal for satellites and spacecraft which require optimal weight capacities to enhance flight dynamics and acceleration. Much of the modern material we find common place today can find there origins in pioneering space technology the same can be said for many of the advanced ceramic materials used in bearings.

Ceramic bearings are typically constructed with a ferrous inner and outer ring or race with ceramic balls in the place of steel. As in most load bearing applications particularly those subjected to a tensile or hoop stress the inherent brittleness of ceramics is a major concern. A tiny percentage reduction in friction here can equate to a worthwhile power saving but when you re only turning at 300 rpm as you do on a bicycle a small percentage increase in efficiency will make a negligible change to your power output. Catastrophic failure of ceramic bearings in vivo fig.

Ceramic bearings offer many advantages over all steel bearings such as higher speed and acceleration capability increased stiffness lower.