Plastic ball bearings
Maintenance-free plastic ball bearings with Si₃N₄, glass or plastic balls – corrosion-resistant and durable for sensitive applications.
Plastic ball bearings
The high quality of plastic ball bearings is known everywhere. Thanks to constant further development, there are hardly any limits to their processing and application possibilities.
Plastic ball bearings with balls made of plastic, glass or silicon nitride
Plastic ball bearings are the better solution wherever the environment does not allow the use of steel — due to heat, cold, moisture, alkalis, acids, etc. — or only allows it for a limited time. These ball bearings are manufactured exclusively by machining. In contrast to the mass production of injection-moulded plastic bearings, this manufacturing process guarantees high quality, dimensional stability and long durability.
Our plastic ball bearings with ceramic balls made of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) are the optimal choice for demanding applications with aggressive media, sensitive technology, or high hygiene requirements. Balls made of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) are unusual in plastic bearings; if your application needs them, we supply them on request.
Ball materials
| Ball | Properties |
|---|---|
| POM (polyoxymethylene) | good dimensional stability, low friction, moisture-resistant, cost-effective |
| PA (polyamide) | high toughness, wear-resistant, moisture-resistant, versatile |
| PEEK (polyether ether ketone) | high temperature resistance, very good mechanical properties, chemically resistant |
| PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) | excellent chemical resistance, very low friction, suitable for dry running, ideal for aggressive media |
| PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) | very high chemical resistance, for corrosive media, high purity, suitable for food and pharma |
| Glass (borosilicate glass) | very hard, wear-resistant, chemically inert, for clean environments, medical and analytical technology |
| Si₃N₄ (silicon nitride) | very hard, wear-resistant, temperature-resistant, chemically inert, for high-performance applications |
Aluminium oxide balls (Al₂O₃) on request.
Why ceramic balls made of silicon nitride?
- High hardness and wear resistance for a long service life
- Excellent corrosion resistance to chemicals and moisture
- Electrically non-conductive — ideal for electronics and medical technology
- Non-magnetic — suitable for magnet-free environments
- No lubricant required — maintenance-free
| Bearing rings | e.g. POM, PA, PEEK, PVDF or PTFE |
|---|---|
| Ball material | POM, PA, PEEK, PTFE, PVDF, glass or silicon nitride (Si₃N₄); Al₂O₃ on request |
| Operating temperature | up to 260 °C |
| Corrosion resistant | yes |
| Magnet-free | yes |
| Lifetime lubrication | not required |
Areas of application
- Chemical plants & laboratory environments
- Food & beverage industry
- Medical technology & diagnostic systems
- Clean rooms & semiconductor manufacturing
- Seawater & outdoor applications
- Devices with electrical insulation requirements
Advantages over metal bearings
- Significantly higher corrosion protection
- No oil or grease required
- Quiet operation due to low weight
- No metal abrasion — higher cleanliness
- Non-conductive
- Ideal for aggressive environmental conditions
Further aspects
The following materials are used as standard to manufacture plastic ball bearings:
Outer and inner rings: POM · PE · PPH · PETP · PTFE · PA · PEEK · PVDF · PSU
Balls: soda-lime glass · Duran glass · stainless steel 1.4401 · stainless steel 1.4571 · POM · PP · PVC · PEEK · ceramic · PVDF
Ball bearings made entirely of PEEK are also available. Whether you need a single piece or a series, we supply custom-made plastic ball bearings with ceramic balls.
Spellings: Si₃N₄ also Si3N4, Al₂O₃ also Al2O3.
Reduce failures, maintenance and downtime.
Let us check together whether ceramic or hybrid solutions can lower your operating costs — with individual advice instead of a datasheet overload.