Optimizing a sliding surface: sintered silicon carbide helps solve a wide range of sliding bearing material demands.(special section: advanced ceramics)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Extreme demands are placed on sliding bearing materials that are used in high-performance applications. Process fluid-lubricated bearings, such as those found in high-speed chemical pumps, must employ ceramic materials with a low-wear property profile for pumping corrosive or abrasive liquids. Sintered silicon carbide (SSiC) is a ceramic that helps solve a wide range of sliding bearing material demands.

SSiC Benefits

SSiC materials offer many advantages over other high-performance ceramics. The SSiC microstructure can be selectively modified to achieve further improvements in the material. For example, one SSiC material* is characterized by an outstanding load capacity that enables it to withstand extreme pressures and thrust forces. It also includes graphite particles with sizes of 50 to 120 [micro]m homogeneously dispersed in its structure, which reduces the coefficient of friction considerably and improves wear behavior.

The self-lubricating effect of the graphite particles even permits temporary dry running. The material is therefore ideal for tribological applications under poor lubrication conditions, such as in sliding …