Dr Steve Lacey, engineering manager at Schaeffler UK, discusses the importance of selecting the appropriate special coating or corrosion resistant material for rolling bearings operating in harsh environments. While standard bearings from reputable manufacturers offer optimum performance and a long service life, in some harsh operating environments or for special applications a standard bearing material or coating may need to be upgraded in order to prevent wear or corrosion of the bearing and to improve the service life. Coatings are applied to the surfaces of rolling bearing components without forming a material bond, for example by diffusion, between the coating and base material. In many cases, it is sufficient to coat only part of the bearing or one of the parts that come into rolling contact. Schaeffler can advise customers when a coating is appropriate and what type should be used in certain applications.
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