CERAMIC BALLS

Si3N4 SILICON NITRIDE

THE MOST WIDELY USED TYPE OF CERAMIC BDUE TO VERY HIGH RESISTANCE TO WEAR AND ABRASION IN GENERAL. IT HAS A LOW COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION (25% OF THAT OF STEEL BALLS) AND A WEIGHT 60% LOWER THAN STEEL. IT HAS A MICRO-STRUCTURE SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR APPLICATIONS SUBJECT TO GREAT STRESS. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE LUBRICATION, IT IS RESISTANT TO CORROSION, ANTI-MAGNETIC AND ELECTRICALLY INSULATING, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE EFFICIENT AT HIGH TEMPERATURES UP TO +1400°C. IT COMBINES EXTREME HARDNESS WITH A HIGH PRECISION BALL. Si3N4 BALLS ARE WIDELY USED IN HIGH PRECISION BEARINGS IN THE AIRSPACE INDUSTRY, FOR MACHINE TOOLS, MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS, MECHANICAL CENTRIFUGES, RADAR AND MISSILES, PUMPS AND COMPRESSORS.

Al2O3 99.5% ALUMINA (ALUMINA OXIDE)

THIS MATERIAL HAS A MULTI-CRSTAL STRUCTURE AND EXCELLENT RESISTANCE TO ABRASION AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. IT IS RESISTANT TO MOST CORROSIVE AGENTS, BUT IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN CONTACT WITH HYDROCHLORIC ACID OR STRONG ALCALINE SOLITIONS. AL2O3 BALLS ARE USED IN VALVES, PUMPS AND BALL BEARINGS.

ZrO2 ZIRCONIUM OXIDE

THIS MATERIAL, COMPARED HAS A HIGH DEGREE OF COMPACTNESS AND CONSIDERABLE FLEXURAL STRENGTH, WHICH MAKES IT VERY RELIABLE. IT ALSO HAS A LOW MODULUS OF ELASTICITY, CLOSE TO THAT OF STEEL, TOGETHER WITH AN EXTRAORDINARILY LOW THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY.

AL2O3 99.99% RUBY

THIS MATERIAL HAS A NON POROUS SINGLE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE USED WHERE PARTICULAR HARDNESS AND EXTREME RESISTANCE TO WEAR ARE REQUIRED TOGETHER WITH A LOW SPECIFIC WEIGHT AND PROPERTIES OF CHEMICAL INERTIA. THE MATERIAL CONSISTS OF PURE ALUMINIUM OXIDE WITH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF CHROME OXIDE WHICH GIVES IT ITS CHARACTERISTIC RED COLOUR, WHICH IS THE MOST VISIBLE FEATURE OF THESE BALLS IN MANY APPLICATIONS AS MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL INSTRUMENTS, VALVES AND PUMPS.

AL2O3 99.99% SAPPHIRE

THIS MATERIAL HAS A SINGLE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE AND UNLIKE RUBY IS TRANSPARENT. BECAUSE OF ITS OPTICAL PROPERTIES AND HIGH REFRACTION INDEX. BALLS MADE OF THIS MATERIAL ARE CURRENTLY USED AS CHEMICALLY INERT LENSES.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SAPPHIRE/RUBY: INERT TO MOST ACIDS AT VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES.

ALUMINA (ALUMINA OXIDE): INERT TO MOST ACIDS, BUT NOT RECOMMENDED IN ENVIROMENTS WITH HYDROCHLORIC OR HYDROFLUORIC ACIDS OR STRONG ALCALINE SOLUTIONS.

SILICON NITRIDE:  INERT TO MOST ACIDS.

ZIRCONIUM OXIDE: INERT EXCEPT TO HYDROFLUORIC ACID AND STRONG CONCERNTRATIONS OF SULPHURIC ACID