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 | |