Ceramic Ball
Silicon Nitride Ball
Silicon Nitride Ball
Profile
Silicon nitride ceramic balls are the premium choice for high-performance bearings. With the best combination of low density, high hardness, fracture toughness and thermal shock resistance among technical ceramics, they run faster, cooler and longer than steel — and they survive conditions that destroy steel bearings. Jiaxin supplies silicon nitride balls from 0.3 mm to 250 mm in grades G3 to G60.
Hardness:HV 1500–1800 (HRA 78–85), harder than bearing steel. Grades: Si3N4, GPS / HIPSN, ISO 26602 Class I–II.
Sizes: 0.3 mm – 250 mm, with custom diameters available on request.
Applications:Hybrid ceramic bearings, high-speed spindles, aerospace, vacuum pumps, semiconductor equipment and racing.
Why Jiaxin Silicon Nitride Balls
Four advantages over typical silicon nitride ball suppliers.
Widest Size Range
0.3 mm miniature to 250 mm large balls — far exceeding the typical 50.8 mm limit of most suppliers.
Bearing-Grade Precision
Grades G3 to G60, significantly tighter than industry-standard G20 or grade 1000, ideal for precision bearings
30 Years, Fortune 500
Three decades of manufacturing experience, trusted by Fortune 500 oil, gas and chemical companies worldwide.
ISO Certified Quality
Every batch ships with material certificate and inspection report. Passivation and custom packaging available.
Characteristics
Key material properties that make silicon nitride the highest-performance bearing ceramic.
Ultra Lightweight
At ~3.2 g/cm³ — only 40% of steel's density, silicon nitride balls cut centrifugal load and enable far higher speeds.
High Hardness
HV 1500–1800 (HRA 78–85) with excellent fracture toughness, resisting wear and impact far better than other ceramics.
Thermal Shock Resistant
Low thermal expansion and high thermal conductivity let it survive rapid temperature changes up to 1200 °C.
Self-Lubricating
Silicon nitride has a low friction coefficient and can run under poor lubrication or dry conditions without seizing.
Chemistry
Reference composition of silicon nitride ceramic ball grades.
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Silicon nitride (Si3N4): ≥ 90% — the primary phase giving hardness and toughness
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Yttrium oxide (Y2O3): 3 – 6% — sintering aid enabling full densification
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Aluminium oxide (Al2O3): 2 – 5% — sintering aid and grain boundary phase
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Silicon dioxide (SiO2): ≤ 3% — surface oxide aiding sintering
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Iron (Fe): ≤ 0.1% — impurity strictly controlled
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Free silicon (Si): ≤ 0.5% — controlled for high-temperature performance
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Calcium (Ca): ≤ 0.1% — impurity strictly limited
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Oxygen (O): ≤ 3% — controlled to retain high-temperature strength
Microstructure of silicon nitride ceramic balls showing fine, interlocked grain structure.
Corrosion Resistance
Silicon nitride resists most acids, alkalis, molten metals and salt spray. It does not rust and is stable in vacuum and high-temperature environments.
Not recommended for: hydrofluoric acid and hot concentrated alkalis. For lower-cost chemical service, alumina is often sufficient.
Technical Specifications
Standard silicon nitride ball specifications. Custom dimensions available on request.
Material Grade
Si3N4 (GPS / HIPSN)
Precision Grades
G3, G5, G10, G16, G20, G28, G40, G60
Young's Modulus
~310 GPa
Surface Finish
Polished, lapped, or custom
Equivalent Names
Silicon nitride, ISO 26602 Class I / II
Hardness
HV 1500–1800 (HRA 78–85)
Flexural
Strength~700-1000 MPa
Supply Condition
Sintered, lapped and polished
Diameter Range
0.3 mm – 250 mm
Density
~3.2 g/cm³
Magnetism
Non-magnetic
Certification
ISO 9001, material certificate, inspection report
Material Selection Guide
Compare silicon nitride with other common ball materials to choose the right one.
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Silicon nitride — 40% of steel's weight, highest toughness, runs dry. Best for high-speed and extreme-duty bearings. → Silicon nitride product page
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420C — HRC 48-56, moderate corrosion resistance. Lower-cost martensitic option. → 420C product page
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304 — ~HRC 25, good corrosion resistance. General-purpose non-magnetic. → 304 product page
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316 / 316L — ~HRC 25, excellent corrosion resistance. Best for marine and chemical. → 316 product page
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52100 Chrome Steel — HRC 60-67, low corrosion resistance. Highest wear resistance at lower cost. → Chrome steel page
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Silicon Nitride (Ceramic) — Extremely hard, corrosion-proof, lightweight. For extreme environments. → Ceramic ball page
International Grade Equivalents
Silicon nitride ceramic is known by different designations worldwide.
Common designation: Si3N4 (GPS / HIPSN / SRBSN)
ISO 26602: Class I / II
Other names: silicon nitride ceramic, ceramic bearing ball
Si3N4
GPS
HIPSN
SRBSN
Class I
Class II
ISO 26602
Si3N4
Industries Using Silicon Nitride Balls
Silicon nitride balls are chosen for the most demanding bearing and high-speed applications.
High-Speed Spindles
Machine tool spindles, turbochargers, dental handpieces, vacuum pumps and high-speed electric motors.
Aerospace & Racing
Aircraft and aerospace bearings, racing transmissions, wind turbine generators and precision gyroscopes.
Semiconductor & Vacuum
Semiconductor processing equipment, vacuum robots, cleanroom machinery and corrosion-resistant pump bearings.
Lead Times & Ordering
Flexible supply for both standard and custom requirements.
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Standard sizes: Popular diameters in stock — typically 3-7 days for shipment.
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Custom orders: Lead time 15-30 days, based on diameter, grade and quantity.
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MOQ: Standard sizes have low MOQ. Custom sizes quoted per requirement.
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Packaging: Standard export packaging, or custom VCI bags, vacuum packing, bulk drums.
Technical Resources
Learn more about silicon nitride ceramic ball selection and applications.
Frequently asked questions
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