Material Types

Chrome steel 100Cr6 or AISI 52100, German Werkstoff 1.3505

Chrome steel is the most common steel grade for balls. Also called bearing steel, it is through-hardened and has a hardness of 60-66 HRCC

These hardened chrome steel balls are used in valve applications, linear technology, precision mechanical industry, grinding applications, medical equipment, measurement and control technology, drawer slides, hydraulic technology, aerospace, etc.

Carbon Steel AISI 1010(C10), AISI 1015(C15), AISI 1045(C45), AISI 1085(C85)

Carbon steel is a common steel quality that is available surface hardened and unhardened.

Use in “low speed” bearing applications, mixing and grinding applications, drawer slides, bicycle balls, etc.

Stainless steel AISI 304(1.4301), AISI 316(1.4401), AISI 420(1.4034), AISI 440(1.4125), AISI 430(1.4016)

Stainless steel is used where corrosion resistance is desired. From freshwater to saltwater environments. In addition, the hardness is also important, both unhardened and hardened are available.

Use in household appliances, valves, measurement and control technology, automotive industry, etc.

Plastic POM or polyacetal or Delrin is widely used because of its wear resistance.

POM or polyacetal or Delrin is widely used because of durability and wear resistance

PP is about the lightest plastic quality, lowest material density of approximately 0.9 Kg/cm3, so it floats on water.

PTFE has very good chemical resistance and is widely used in petrochemicals.

Torlon is a hard, wear-resistant plastic quality, used in shipping and sailing boats.

Weight saving is one of the most important reasons, in addition to corrosion resistance, to use plastic.

Hollow balls, ground

Hollow PP or HDPE balls

Hollow balls made of PP or HDPE are mainly used as valve balls or cover balls. Of course, the weight is also very important.

Rubber

Rubber NBR 60 of 70 Shore A, or EPDM rubber

Also in connection with weight, rubber balls with a cork core

Often used as shut-off balls, valve balls, in pump and valve applications.

Brass and bronze

Brass is gold-colored and is often used for conductive applications.

Bronze is more brown in color, phosphor bronze is also often used.

In many optical applications and where electrical conduction is important.

Aluminium andTitanium

Aluminum is often used when low weight is required, Titanium is slightly heavier but still somewhat stronger.

Applications in measuring equipment, aerospace, automotive industry.

Hardmetal Tungsten Carbide

Also called Tungsten Carbide. 2 variants: Tungsten Carbide is bonded with 6% cobalt as standard. There is also a less common variant with 6% nickel, for better rust resistance

In applications where wear resistance, high temperature resistance, rust resistance and pressure play an important role. Consider aerospace and other high-precision mechanical applications.

Tool Steel AISI S2

This material is a hardened material, 52-60 HRC, very wear-resistant and with high toughness. Also called RockBit balls.

In applications where extreme forces must be withstood, such as the oil and mining industries.

Ceramic material

Silicon Nitride(Si3N4), Alumina Oxide(Al2O3), ZIrconiaOxide(ZrO2), Silicon Carbide(SiC)

Hard material, very wear-resistant, low expansion) at higher temperatures, light, non-magnetic, often used in laboratories, grinding applications, high-precision applications, aerospace, high-quality measuring equipment, medical equipment.

Glass

Soda Lime glass (glossy glass) and borosilicate glass (matte glass)

Often used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries, also in precision mechanical applications, in measuring equipment and valve applications.

Forged Steel

Carbon Manganese (C-Mn) steel forged grinding balls, for heavy grinding applications, cement industry, larger sizes from approx. 15 – 125 mm

Cast steel, Cast iron steel ditto for heavy grinding applications

Dry or wet grinding in various raw material mining industries, iron, manganese, coal, copper, gold, tungsten, uranium.

Forged steel balls are also used on fences or other ornamental applications.

Neodymium magnetic balls

For different uses, refrigerator magnets, for sticking memos on steel, as a toy, magic cube

Exotic materials

Think of ruby, sapphire, Monel K500, Hastelloy C276/B3, Stellite

Often used in connection with high temperature resistance, or high hardness or toughness.