Author(s)

M. Hadfield, R. Ahmed & S. Tobe

Abstract

High quality ceramic materials used in rolling element bearing applications show some practical advantages over traditional bearing steels. Silicon nitride has been found to have the optimum combination of properties suitable for certain high speed, low mass and high stiffness applications. Hybrid silicon nitride rolling element bearings are now supplied as standard components by manufacturers. Coatings may also be considered to enhance the capability of hybrid bearings for applications such as high speed and high temperature. A modified four-ball machine was employed to produce accelerated rolling contact fatigue failures of these materials. Silicon nitride verses steel, silicon nitride verses silicon nitride and tungsten carbide coating verses steel configurations were considered. The lubricated tests were performed at relatively high loads and

Keywords