Metal Balls

Metal balls are rolling, spherical elements that are used in check and ball valves, bearings, and other mechanical devices that provide rotary or linear motion. They are usually made from alloy steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, tool steel, cobalt or cobalt alloys, copper or copper alloys, nickel or nickel alloys, titanium or titanium alloys, specialized ferrous alloys, or miscellaneous nonferrous metals. Specifications for metal balls include outer diameter, allowable deviation, surface roughness and basic diameter tolerance. Outer diameter (OD) is the overall width or average diameter. Allowable deviation is the greatest radial distance in a radial plane between a sphere that is circumscribed around the metal ball surface and any point on the metal ball surface. Surface roughness measures the irregularities which form the surface relief, but do are not significant deviations of form. Basic diameter tolerance is the maximum allowable deviation mean diameter from the diameter specified. In terms of features, some metal balls are heat resistant or corrosion resistant. Others are hollow or wear resistant.   

Metal balls can be made from alloy steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, or tool steel. Alloy steels are ferrous alloys based on iron and carbon. They contain low to high levels of alloying elements such as chromium, molybdenum, vanadium and nickel. Plain carbon steels are ferrous alloys based on iron, carbon and small levels of other alloying elements such as manganese or aluminum. Stainless steels are highly corrosion resistant, ferrous alloys that contain chromium and/or nickel additions. There are three basic types of products: austenitic stainless steels, ferritic and martensitic stainless steels, and specialty stainless steels, and iron superalloys. Tool steels are wear resistant, ferrous alloys based on iron and carbon with high levels of alloying (hardenability and property modifying) elements such as chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium.

Metal balls can be made from cobalt or cobalt alloys, copper or copper alloys, nickel or nickel alloys, and titanium or titanium alloys. Cobalt and cobalt alloys are non-ferrous magnetic alloys with high strength and toughness, excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance, and high temperature strength. Copper and copper alloys are non-ferrous metals with excellent electrical and thermal conductivity as well as good corrosion resistance, ductility and strength. Nickel and nickel alloys are non-ferrous metals with high strength and toughness, excellent corrosion resistance, and superior elevated temperature properties. Titanium and titanium alloys are non-ferrous metals with excellent corrosion resistance, good fatigue properties, and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Titanium metal balls are often used in aerospace applications.

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Part Numbers for Metal Balls