Page 124 - The Tribology Handbook

Rol I i ng bearing materia Is A2 1

SELECTION OF CAGE MATERIALS

The most commonly used materials are steel, brass, bronze and plastics. Steel retainers are generally manufactured from
riveted strips, while bronze and plastic cages are usually machined.
There is a number of important considerations in the selection of materials, including the following:
Resistance to wear To withstand the effect of sliding against hardened steel
Strength To enable thin sections to be used
Resistance to einvironment To avoid corrosion, etc.
Suitability for production Usually machined or fabricated

Table 21.8 Typical materials and their limitations

MaterMl Oxidation
Tesistazce
L.ow carbon steel 260 Fair Poor Standard material for low-speed or non-
critical applications
Iron silicon bronze 320 Good 150°C Excellent Jet engine applications as well as other
Excellent 260°C medium-speed, medium-temperature
bearings
~
S Monel 535 Fair Excellent Excellent high temperature strength
AIS1 430 stainless steel 535 Poor Excellent Standard matdal for 44OC stainless steel
bearings-low speed
17-4-Ph stainless steel 535 Poor in air Excellent Good high temperature performance.
Good wear resistance
Non-metallic retainers, 135 Excellent - High-speed bearing applications
fabric base
phenolic laminates
Silver plate Possibly Excellent to - Has been used in applications where
I80 150°C marginal lubrication was encountered
during part of the operating cycle

A21.5