STL - Ceramic

Chrome Balls Case Hardened - Carbon Through Hardened - Carbon AISI 302/304 - Stainless Steel AISI 316 - Stainless Steel AISI 420 - Stainless Steel AISI 440C - Stainless Steel Silicon Nitride Ceramic Cobalt Binder - Tungsten Carbide Nickel Binder - Tungsten Carbide Plastic Other Materials

Special Products

Overview Ref Ball with Stem Ref Ball with Wire CMM Reference Balls Mounting Fixtures Plug Guages Reference Tooling Balls

Other Products

Rollers

Calibration

Quality

Technical

Definitions ASDMA - Grades DIN 5401 (Germany) - Grades DIN 5401 (1978) - Grades ISO - Grades Italian - Grades JIS - Grades ASTM - Grades Material Comparison Dimensional Chart Hardness Conversion Chart

Resources

Ceramic Balls

General Information

Ceramic balls are particularly suited to harsh environments. Their main advantages over steel is that they have a density of 40% lower than steel. Have 29% lower thermal expansion and are 150% harder. In certain high-speed applications their life is extended by as much as a hundred times. The three main materials used are Alumina Oxide, Zirconia Oxide and Silicon Nitride.

The following chart shows comparisons between the three.

Material Specifications

	Alumina Oxide	Zirconia Oxide	Silicon Nitride
Composition	99.5% Al2O3 / 0.5% other	97% ZrO2 / 3% MgO	87% Si3N4 / 13% other
Hardness	1700 Hv	80 - 84 Ra	1400 - 1700 Hv
Ultimate Tensile Strength	31,000 psi	60,000 psi	-
Ultimate Compressive Strength	>300,000 psi	285,000 psi	>570,000 psi
Modulus of Elasticity	53 x106 psi	29 x106 psi	44-45 x106 psi
Maximum Working Temperature	1400oC	2400oC	1000oC
Corrosion Resistance	Inert except for hydruofluric and hot concentrated sulphuric acids.	Inert to most substances, not recommended for environments of hydrochloric or strong alkaline solutions.	Inert to most substances.