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Sign In Ball Bearing Steel - The Choice - Chrome or Stainless
Written by Dr. Juergen Abrams on October 30, 2024.
Ball bearing steel can be chrome steel or stainless steel, the choice of which steel is used depends on the actual application, speed, temperature, load, lubrication and the environment they are used for.
Ball bearings are small but powerful components, they are a crucial part of many machines and moving parts in our everyday life. These small balls can be made from chrome steel like 52100, a high carbon steel.
The carbon is evenly distributed throughout this steel grade when hardened through which gives the bearing the needed hardness to withstand the constant stresses put on them.
As a steel supplier ABRAMS Industries® can offer you ball bearing steel in both chrome and stainless steel.
AVAILABLE BEARING STEEL ALLOYS
A typical ball bearing steel ist a chrome steel like the 52100, with a high carbon content, up to 0.2%, and a chromium content of about 1.5%. In comparison to other ball bearing materials the chromium steels are harder and can be used for temperatures up to 250 °F (120 °C) in constant use and up to approx. 300 °F (approx. 150 °C) in intermittent use. Permanent temperatures above 250 °F should be avoided as it affects hardness as well as reducing the load capacity and the bearing can undergo dimensional changes. The chromium content is not high enough though to make these bearings corrosion resistant.
Where corrosion resistance is important like for food safety for example corrosion resistant steels like 440 or 316 steels are used.
The alloy you choose for your bearings impacts performance and long term reliability. The wrong material leads to premature failure from wear and deformation of the bearing which is not only costly but time consuming.
Below is an overview of steel grades ABRAMS Industries® carries in its portfolio in imperial and metric sizes.
52100 Bearing Steel
| 52100 Bearing Steel Price Chart | |||||
$mart Flat Stock Imperial
Thickness: From 5/16 Inch to 5 1/2 InchWidth: From 1 Inch to 12 InchLength: 12 Inch and 24 Inch | $mart Flat Stock Metric
Thickness: From 8.3 mm to 100.3 mm Width: From 33 mm to 303 mm Length: 300 mm and 600 mm | ||||
| 52100 Customized cuts available. | |||||
L3 Bearing Steel
| L3 Bearing Steel Price Chart | |||||
$mart Flat Stock Imperial
Thickness: From 5/16 Inch to 5 1/2 InchWidth: From 1 Inch to 12 InchLength: 12 Inch and 24 Inch | $mart Flat Stock Metric
Thickness: From 8.3 mm to 100.3 mm Width: From 33 mm to 303 mm Length: 300 mm and 600 mm | ||||
| L3 Customized cuts available. | |||||
440B Bearing Steel
| 440B Bearing Steel Price Chart | |||||
 | Precision Ground Flat Stock, oversize
Thickness: From 3.2 mm to 20.3 mm Width: From 10.3 mm to 150.3 mm Length: 1,000 mm | ||||
$mart Flat Stock Imperial
Thickness: From 3/32 Inch to 5 1/2 InchWidth: From 1 Inch to 20 InchLength: 12 Inch and 24 Inch | $mart Flat Stock Metric
Thickness: From 2.3 mm to 100.3 mm Width: From 33 mm to 503 mm Length: 300 mm and 600 mm | ||||
 | Hard Flat Stock Metric
Thickness: From 2.2 mm to 9.2 mm Width: 250 mm Length: 250 mm and 500 mm | ||||
 | Cold Finished Rounds Metric
Diameter: From 10.0 mm to 25.0 mm Length: 914 mm | ||||
| 440B Customized cuts available. | |||||
440C Bearing Steel
| 440C Bearing Steel Price Chart | |||||
$mart Flat Stock Imperial
Thickness: From 3/32 Inch to 5 1/2 InchWidth: From 1 Inch to 20 InchLength: 12 Inch and 24 Inch | $mart Flat Stock Metric
Thickness: From 2.3 mm to 100.3 mm Width: From 33 mm to 503 mm Length: 300 mm and 600 mm | ||||
Cold Finished Rounds
Diameter: From 1/4 Inch to 1 3/4 InchLength: 18 Inch and 36 Inch |  | ||||
Decarb Free Rounds
Diameter: From 2 Inch to 4 InchLength: 18 Inch and 36 Inch |  | ||||
| 440C Customized cuts available. | |||||
316Ti Bearing Steel
| 316Ti Bearing Steel Price Chart | |||||
$mart Flat Stock Imperial
Thickness: From 3/8 Inch to 5 1/2 InchWidth: From 1 Inch to 12 InchLength: 12 Inch and 24 Inch | $mart Flat Stock Metric
Thickness: From 8.3 mm to 100.3 mm Width: From 33 mm to 303 mm Length: 300 mm and 600 mm | ||||
 | Cold Finished Rounds Metric
Diameter: From 5.0 mm to 25.0 mm Length: 914 mm | ||||
| 316Ti Customized cuts available. | |||||
316 Bearing Steel
| 316 Bearing Steel Price Chart | |||||
$mart Flat Stock Imperial
Thickness: From 3/8 Inch to 5 1/2 InchWidth: From 1 Inch to 12 InchLength: 12 Inch and 24 Inch | $mart Flat Stock Metric
Thickness: From 8.3 mm to 100.3 mm Width: From 33 mm to 303 mm Length: 300 mm and 600 mm | ||||
Cold Finished Rounds
Diameter: From 1/4 Inch to 4 Inch Length: 18 Inch and 36 Inch | Cold Finished Rounds Metric
Diameter: From 5.0 mm to 25.0 mm Length: 914 mm | ||||
| 316 Customized cuts available. | |||||
5115 Bearing Steel
| 5115 Bearing Steel Price Chart | |||||
 | Precision Ground Flat Stock, oversize
Thickness: From 8.2 mm to 20.3 mm Width: From 15.3 mm to 70.3 mm Length: 1,000 mm | ||||
$mart Flat Stock Imperial
Thickness: From 3/32 Inch to 2 InchWidth: From 1 Inch to 20 InchLength: 12 Inch and 24 Inch | $mart Flat Stock Metric
Thickness: From 3.3 mm to 50.3 mm Width: From 33 mm to 503 mm Length: 300 mm and 600 mm | ||||
| 5115 Customized cuts available. | |||||
IS BEARING STEEL MAGNETIC?
Bearing steels are, apart from some stainless steels, magnetic. For applications where magnetic bearings, ceramic or plastic bearings are not suitable, non magnetic steel bearings, made from austenitic steel, can be used.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEARINGS
Apart from ball bearings there are many more bearings which find their uses in a wide variety of applications and industries as well as in our everyday life. Wherever we turn we are surrounded by bearings, may it be in our bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades or our cars but also in our washing machines, rotation plates of microwaves, AC’s or fridge doors.
Examples of different types of bearings:
• Ball bearings (single or double row)
• Deep groove ball bearings
• Self aligning ball bearings
• Angular contact ball bearings
• Thrust ball bearings
• Cylindrical roller bearings
• Needle roller bearings
• Spherical roller bearings
• Plain bearings
• Hydrodynamic bearings
• Magnetic bearings
Examples of different types of bearings:
• Ball bearings (single or double row)
• Deep groove ball bearings
• Self aligning ball bearings
• Angular contact ball bearings
• Thrust ball bearings
• Cylindrical roller bearings
• Needle roller bearings
• Spherical roller bearings
• Plain bearings
• Hydrodynamic bearings
• Magnetic bearings
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BEARING FOR YOUR JOB
First and foremost it is important to choose the correct material of which the bearings for your application are made of. Factors such as contaminants, corrosive elements, operating temperatures, loads and speeds play a major role in the selection of the right bearings.
To prevent failures, size, fit, alignment and balancing are important. Your projects depend on the reliability and stability of your bearings. Regular inspections, lubrication and monitoring of temperatures and the occurrence of unusual noises or vibrations are essential for success and a long service life. Damages, costs and downtime can be the result of broken bearings and can be avoided by professional use and maintenance.
The right bearing for the job ensures that rotary and linear motion can be performed smoothly and evenly. The right choice guarantees sufficient operating times and a long service life.
PROPERTIES OF BEARING STEEL ALLOYS
| Grade / Characteristic | Machinability | Corrosion Resistance | Magnetic | Hardness |
| 52100 | Good | Fair | Yes | 60 - 64 HRC |
| L3 | Good | Fair | Yes | 60 - 64 HRC |
| 316 | Fair | Excellent | No | 215 BHN* |
| 316Ti | Fair | Excellent | No | 215 BHN* |
| 440B | Fair | Excellent | Yes | 53 - 58 HRC |
| 440C | Fair | Excellent | Yes | 57 - 60 HRC |
| 5115 | Very good | Fair | Yes | 58 - 60 HRC |
*delivery condition
SUMMARY
Can it bear it or not? A lot depends on the smooth operation of the bearings in many different devices, machines and instruments. The right bearing makes for smooth moving parts and can decide on the success of your projects. So for the right choice of steel to make your bearings contact our team for more information or a quote!