Because of high, repetitive stress to the rolling contact areas, fatigue phenomena will occur in the bearing material after a duration of operation. Loading stress ultimately dislodges a surface section, and the bearing fails. To delay the advent of material fatigue, bearing ring and rolling element materials should have the following properties:
• High level of hardness
• High rolling contact fatigue resistance
• Good wear resistance
• Dimensional stability
• Good mechanical strength
Today, chromium steel is one of the oldest and most intensively investigated steels, due to the continuously increasing demands for extended bearing service life. The composition of this rolling bearing steel provides an optimum balance between manufacturing and application performance. This steel is normally given a martensitic or bainitic heat treatment during which it is hardened to the range of 58 to 65 HRC. Vacuum degassed, chromium-bearing steel GCr15 is the standard material for precision bearing rings and rolling elements. The material has a uniform specification as SAE52100 (America), DIN100 Cr6 (German), JIS SUJ2 (Japan).
Chemical composition of a representative chrome-bearing steel
| Sheet Steel No. |
Chemical Composition % |
GCr15 SAE52100 JISSUJ2 DIN 100 Gr6 |
C |
Si |
Mn |
P |
S |
Cr |
Mo |
Cu |
Ni |
| 0.95-1.05 |
0.15-0.35 |
0.25-0.45 |
≤0.02 |
≤0.015 |
1.4-1.6 |
0-0.08 |
0.06-0.02 |
≤0.2 |
Because YINGHONG bearings have the competence and facilities to provide a variety of materials, processes, and coatings, YINGHONG application engineers can assist in selecting those bearings that will provide superior performance for particular applications.
Cage material
Material for cages is required to have properties of good wear resistance, dimensional stability, and good mechanical strength for perfect bearing running purposes. Therefore, for the selection of cage material, it is important to consider the operating conditions.
• Sheet steel cages
These lightweight cages have relatively high strength and can be surface-treated to further reduce friction and wear. Cold-rolled steel is used for pressed cages. (Specification see the table below)
| Sheet Steel No. |
Chemical Composition % |
| JIS G 3141 SPCC |
C |
Si |
Mn |
P |
S |
Ni |
Cr |
| <0.12 |
|
<0.5 |
<0.04 |
<0.045 |
|
|
• Sheet brass cages
Pressed sheet brass cages are used for some small and medium-sized bearings. In applications such as compressors for refrigeration using ammonia, seasonal cracking in sheet brass might occur; steel cages should be used instead.
| Standard |
Symbols |
Chemical Composition % |
| Cu |
Zn |
Mn |
Fe |
Al |
Sn |
Ni |
Impurities (Pb) |
Impurities (Si) |
| JIS H 5120 |
CAC301 (HBsC 1) |
55.0 - 60.0 |
33.0 - 42.0 |
0.1 - 1.5 |
0.5 - 1.5 |
0.5 - 1.5 |
< 1.0 |
< 1.0 |
< 0.4 |
< 1.0 |
| JIS H 3250 |
C 6782 |
56.0 - 60.5 |
Residual |
0.1 - 1.5 |
0.5 - 1.5 |
0.5 - 1.5 |
- |
- |
< 0.5 |
- |
• Polymer cages
Polyamide resin is applied depending on the type of bearing and the application, but should not be used at temperatures above 120℃ or below -40℃. For the majority of injection moulded cages, polyamide 6.6 is used. This material, with glass fibre reinforcement or without, is characterized by a favourable combination of strength and elasticity.

The mechanical properties, like strength and elasticity of polymeric materials, are temperature dependent and subject to permanent changes under operating conditions, called ageing. The most important factors that play a role in this ageing behaviour are temperature, time and the medium (lubricant) to which the polymer is exposed. The relationship between these factors for glass fibre reinforced polyamide 6.6 is illustrated in a diagram. It appears that the cage life decreases with increasing temperature and the aggressiveness of the lubricant. Therefore, whether polyamide cages are suitable for a specific application depends on the operating conditions and life requirements.
• Shields material
YINGHONG bearings employ carbon steel as standard, and the option of AISI-300 stainless steel is available when needed.
• Seals material
MR bearings use a variety of sealing materials to meet the requirements of high-temperature operation and compatibility with greases. Buna Nitrile is the standard material used, while fluorocarbon, silicone, and Teflon seals are commonly specified for high temperatures.
| Type |
ASTM D1418 Designation |
Temperature Range |
(Shore A) Hardness |
Features |
Limitation |
| Nitrile (Buna) |
NBR |
(-40~250°F) |
40~90 |
Low compression set, high tensile strength, and high abrasion resistance. Excellent resistance to petroleum-based oils and fuels. |
Not recommended for very high temperature. Not recommended for exposure to sunlight and chemicals as acid, ether and esters. |
| Silicone |
MQ/PMQ/VMQ/PVMP |
(-94~400°F) |
25~80 |
High temperature and dry heat resistance. High resistance to aging effects of both sunlight and ozone attach. |
Low abrasion and tear resistance. High friction characteristics. |
| Hydrogenated Nitrile |
HNBR/NEM |
(-30~330°F) |
50~90 |
The hydrogenation of Nitrile, heat resistance, tensile strength. Enhanced physical strength and chemical resistance. |
Not recommended for very low temperature. Not recommended for exposure to sunlight and chemicals as acid, ether and esters. |
| Fluororubber |
FKM/FPM |
(-20~400°F) |
50~95 |
Combining high temperature resistance with outstanding chemical resistance. Highly resistant to petroleum products, acids and silicone fluids. |
Not recommended for situations requiring low temperature flexibility. |
| Polyacrylate |
ACM Rubber |
(0~350°F) |
40~90 |
Excellent resistance to hot oil, sunlight and ozone degradation. Also features an enhanced ability to resist flex cracking. |
Water resistance is lower. Not recommended for very low temperatures. |
Safety precautions for fluoro rubber are very stable and harmless in normal operating conditions up to +200℃. However, if exposed to extreme temperatures above 300℃, e.g., fire or the flame of a cutting torch, fluoro rubber seals give off hazardous fumes. These fumes can be harmful if inhaled, as well as to the eyes. In addition, it should not be in contact with the skin either.
Precision
According to ISO, the precision of bearing is divided into P0, P6, P5, and P4. The tolerance depends on Chinese GB/T307.1-2005 and ISO492:2002. Reference FORM3.
| Country |
Standard |
Precision |
| China |
GB 307.1 |
P0 |
P6 |
P5 |
P4 |
| Switzerland |
SKF |
P0 |
P6 |
P5 |
P4 |
| Germany |
DIN |
P0 |
P6 |
P5 |
P4 |
| Japan |
JIS |
P0 |
P6 |
P5 |
P4 |
| USA |
ANSI |
ABEC1 |
ABEC3 |
ABEC5 |
ABEC7 |