Move to the body of this page
Rod end bearings

Materials

The basic components of self-aligned bearings are balls, races, and bodies. The materials for these components are basically divided into two types: ferrous materials and non-ferrous materials. Materials are carefully selected and combined based on several requirements such as cost, safety and resistance, in accordance with operating condition. For particular applications, special treatments shall be additionally considered, such as heat treatment, surface treatment and others. The Table 3 shows materials characteristics and major applications.


Table 3 : Commonly used materials

Basic
Classification
Types of Material Typical Material
Code
Characteristics Major Applications
Ferrous
Materials
Constructional
Low Carbon Steel
S10C
S45C
S15C
S48C
Usually not hardening
Suitable for general strength
Bodies for Rod End
Constructional
Alloy Steel
4340
SCM435H
4130 Good hardenability
High toughness and strength
Bodies for 3 Piece Rod End
Bearing Steel SUJ2
52100
SUJ3 Possible to obtain high hardness
by hardening Strong against
rolling fatigue
Good for anti-wear action
Balls for Rod End and
Spherical bearing
Races & balls for fracture
type bearing
(typical ball bearing material)
Stainless Steel 440C   Possible to obtain high hardness
(especially balls for
PTFE lined bearings)
Suitable for fractured type
(races and balls)
Balls for Rod End and
Spherical bearing
410   A typical martensitic stainless steel Races for Spherical bearing Sleeves
17-4PH
SUS630
15-5PH High strength stainless steel
High toughness
Bodies for 3 Piece Rod End
Races for Spherical bearing
Sleeves
303   Excellent corrosion resistance
Non heat treatable
Bodies for 2 Piece Rod End
Heat Resisting Steel A286
INCONEL®
STELLITE® Good resistance to high
temperature creep and
corrosion
Bodies, races & balls for
Rod End Bearing
(aerospace applications)
Non-ferrous
Materials
Aluminum Bronze
(Al-Bz)
C62300 C64200 High strength copper alloy
Good resistance to sea water
Good for anti-wear action
Races for spherical bearing
Beryllium Copper
(Be-Cu)
C17200   High hardness possible by
age-hardening (approx. 40HRC)
Good for anti-wear action
Balls for Spherial bearing
Aluminum Alloy 2024 7075 Light weight provides strength equal to steel Sleeves Races &
balls for spherical bearing
Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V   Light weight
High toughness and strength
Bodies for Rod End

Related page

Support / Contact

For product-related inquiries, please contact us using the form below.

Page Top