Specialty and Modified Balls

Specialty balls and modified balls are unlisted, specialized or proprietary spheres that are designed for specialized applications. A specialty ball or sphere product can be made of aluminum, plastic, rubber, chrome steel, stainless steel, or ceramic materials. Specialty and modified balls that are made from aluminum are lightweight, non-ferrous products that provide good corrosion resistance, ductility and strength. Plastic and rubber balls are spherical shapes that suitable for light-load bearings and flow control applications. Plastic balls have low friction and require little lubrication. Chrome steel balls contain chromium as an essential alloying ingredient. Stainless steel balls are chemical and corrosion resistant and can have relatively high pressure ratings Ceramic balls provide increased stiffness, higher accuracy, lower friction and heat generation, reduced lubrication requirements, low thermal expansion, and extended operating life. Other ball types and ball-shaped materials are commonly available.

Specialty balls and modified balls that are made from plastic materials vary in terms of impact strength and continuous resistance to heat. Materials of construction include acetal, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), cellulose, diallyl phthalate, epoxy, ionmer, melamine formaldehyde, nylon, phenol formaldehyde, phenoxy, polyallomer, polycarbonate, polyester, polyphenylene oxide, polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, polysulfone, polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), tetrafluoroethylene. For specialty and modified balls that are made of metal, important specifications to consider include weight, magnetic properties, self-lubrication, wear resistance and high-temperature resistance.

Specialty balls and modified balls are used in many different applications, most often in bearings, pumps, and valves. Products that are used in bearings and bearing components need to meet a range of application requirements. For example, specialty and modified balls that are designed for aerospace applications should be relatively lightweight and provide high wear-resistance and strength. Specialty balls that are used in ball-shaped antenna are usually made from high-density polystyrene and coated with water-based paint or non-toxic inks.

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