What Are Steel Balls And How Are They Used

In the field of manufacturing, precision and reliability are crucial factors. Across various applications, there is a demand for materials that can endure high pressure, demonstrate durability, and deliver exceptional performance. One such material that meets these requirements is the steel ball.

In this blog, we will explore the characteristics and applications of steel balls, providing a comprehensive understanding of their properties and range of uses.

What Are Steel Balls? 

Steel balls are small metallic spheres primarily made from steel alloys. These spheres possess notable characteristics such as high density, strength, and hardness, which make them exceptionally suitable for various industrial applications. 

The manufacturing process of steel balls involves a specialized technique that includes forming, heat treatment, and precision grinding, all aimed at achieving the desired properties.

How Are Steel Balls Made?

Steel balls are typically made from either carbon steel or stainless steel, with the choice of material determined by specific application requirements. Carbon steel balls are favoured for their high hardness and exceptional wear resistance, making them suitable for applications involving heavy loads and abrasive environments. Conversely, stainless steel balls offer superior corrosion resistance, making them well-suited for applications in chemically aggressive environments.

The manufacturing process for steel balls involves shaping raw steel wire into spherical forms using either a cold heading or hot rolling method. Once shaped, the steel balls undergo a heat treatment to enhance their mechanical properties, such as hardness and strength. Finally, precision grinding is employed to achieve the desired size and surface finish, resulting in precise and consistent steel balls.

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What Are The Different Uses Of Steel Balls?

Steel balls have several uses in different industries due to their unique properties and versatility. Here are some of the popular applications of steel balls:

1. Bearings: Steel balls play a crucial role in the manufacturing of ball bearings. They reduce friction and enable smooth rotation in various machines and equipment, including automotive engines, industrial pumps, and conveyor systems.
2. Automotive Industry: Steel balls find application in various automotive components, such as steering systems, transmissions, and engines. Their exceptional load-bearing capacity and resistance to wear and fatigue make them indispensable for ensuring reliable and efficient operation.
3. Aerospace Industry: In the aerospace industry, steel balls are utilized in aircraft engines, landing gear mechanisms, and control systems. Their ability to withstand high temperatures, extreme pressures, and harsh environments makes them indispensable in this field.
4. Machinery and Equipment: Steel balls are essential components in machinery and equipment across different industries. They are commonly used in valves, couplings, gears, and other mechanical systems to facilitate smooth movement, reduce friction, and enhance operational efficiency.
5. Grinding and Milling: Steel balls are used in ball mills and grinding machines for crushing and grinding materials. They assist in reducing particle size and blending various substances in industries such as mining, pharmaceuticals, and ceramics.

Steel balls are vital in industries for durability, precision, and reliability. B5 Plus Limited understands the importance of quality steel balls and offers high-quality products tailored to meet the diverse needs of different industries. For further information, visit our website, www.b5plusgroup.com, or contact +233544336688.

CCR Products is a leading manufacturer of High Precision Stainless Steel Balls. The company offers a wide range of Stainless Steel materials such as 302, 316, 316L, 316L VM, 420, 430, 440C, 440 DFARS, 440C Vacuum Melt, and BG42. Other Stainless Steel ball materials are available upon request. All of our Stainless Steel balls are passivated.

CCR's High Precision Stainless Steel Balls are used in aerospace applications and precision bearings. Other applications include valve pumps, locking mechanisms, sprinkling systems, appliance components, nail polish and spray paint bottles for agitation, casters, drawer slides, and a host of other industrial and consumer products.

Stainless Steels

AISI Type 302 Stainless Steel

AISI type 302 stainless steel balls are for applications where good corrosion resistance is important, but hardness is not. They offer good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, dyes, food, environmental sterilizing solutions and many organic and inorganic materials. Type 302 balls are used in dispenser and aerosol valves, lotion pumps, locking mechanisms, agitators, animal feeders, trigger sprayers, finger pumps, food processing and medical applications.
 

AISI Type 304 Stainless Steel

AISI type 304 stainless steel balls are used where good corrosion resistance is important, but hardness is not. They offer good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, dyes, food environments, sterilizing solutions and many organic and inorganic materials. Type 304 balls are used in aerosol and dispenser valves, medical applications, animal feeders, trigger sprayers, finger pumps and food processing.

AISI Type 316 Stainless Steel

AISI type 316 stainless steel balls offer excellent corrosion resistance and resistance to sulphuric acid compounds. This austenitic steel includes 2-3% molybdenum. Type 316 balls are used in trigger sprayers, bearings, dispenser valves, body jewelry, lotion pumps, quick-disconnect couplings and aerospace applications. Type 316LVM balls are used in jewelry, human implant and other medical applications.

AISI Type 316L Stainless Steel

AISI type 316L stainless steel has a lower carbon content than 316 stainless, which gives it even higher corrosion resistance than the excellent resistance of type 316. Both types offer excellent resistance to sulphuric acid compounds. Applications for type 316L balls include Jewelry and medical uses.

AISI Type 316LVM Stainless Steel

AISI type 316LVM (low carbon vacumm melt) stainless steel, regarded as a medical grade, this stainless steel is vacuum melted to is vacuum achieve high levels of purity and cleanliness. It has excellent resistance to both general and intergranular corrosion, and pitting and crevice corrosion. The vacuum melt allows for superior surface finish.

AISI Type 420 Stainless Steel

AISI type 420 stainless steel balls have fair-to-good corrosion resistance and good material strength. They resist corrosion from alcohol, ammonia, food environments, fresh water, many petroleum products and organic materials and some mild acid environments. They are found in bearings, valves, lighters and writing instruments.

AISI Type 430 Stainless Steel

AISI type 430 stainless steel balls provide fair to-good corrosion resistance. They resist corrosion from fresh water, steam, food environments, dairy products, nitric acid and many petroleum products and organic material. Applications include balls in cosmetics agitators such as nail polish and eyeliners,as dispenser pump balls and valve balls.

AISI Type 440C Stainless Steel

AISI type 440C stainless steel balls offer the maximum in material strength and fair corrosion resistance. They resist alcohol, food environments, fresh water, many petroleum products, organic materials and steam. Type 440C balls are used in bearings, valves, locking mechanisms, fasteners and quick-disconnect couplings.
 

AISI Type 440C Vacuum Melt

AISI type 440C Vacuum Melt is processed by Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) to reduce impurities for very demanding applications. Nickel based super alloys for high temperature, stainless steels for nuclear and aerospace, Cobalt based alloy for medical, high purity copper alloys and very clean magnetic alloys for high permeability are typical applications for 440C Vacuum Melt.

AISI Type LESCALLOY BG42 VIM-VAR

LESCALLOY BG42 VIM-VAR steel is a martensitic, stainless high speed steel that combines the tempering, hot hardness and hardness retention characteristics of M50 high speed steel with the corrosion and oxidation resistance of 440C stainless. BG42 is double vacuum melted to consistently assure high cleanliness and superior properties. It is ideal for aerospace bearings, critical applications, cutlery and other uses that require excellent wear and corrosion resistance.

AISI type 302 stainless steel balls are for applications where good corrosion resistance is important, but hardness is not. They offer good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, dyes, food, environmental sterilizing solutions and many organic and inorganic materials. Type 302 balls are used in dispenser and aerosol valves, lotion pumps, locking mechanisms, agitators, animal feeders, trigger sprayers, finger pumps, food processing and medical applications.AISI type 304 stainless steel balls are used where good corrosion resistance is important, but hardness is not. They offer good resistance to atmospheric corrosion, dyes, food environments, sterilizing solutions and many organic and inorganic materials. Type 304 balls are used in aerosol and dispenser valves, medical applications, animal feeders, trigger sprayers, finger pumps and food processing.AISI type 316 stainless steel balls offer excellent corrosion resistance and resistance to sulphuric acid compounds. This austenitic steel includes 2-3% molybdenum. Type 316 balls are used in trigger sprayers, bearings, dispenser valves, body jewelry, lotion pumps, quick-disconnect couplings and aerospace applications. Type 316LVM balls are used in jewelry, human implant and other medical applications.AISI type 316L stainless steel has a lower carbon content than 316 stainless, which gives it even higher corrosion resistance than the excellent resistance of type 316. Both types offer excellent resistance to sulphuric acid compounds. Applications for type 316L balls include Jewelry and medical uses.AISI type 316LVM (low carbon vacumm melt) stainless steel, regarded as a medical grade, this stainless steel is vacuum melted to is vacuum achieve high levels of purity and cleanliness. It has excellent resistance to both general and intergranular corrosion, and pitting and crevice corrosion. The vacuum melt allows for superior surface finish.AISI type 420 stainless steel balls have fair-to-good corrosion resistance and good material strength. They resist corrosion from alcohol, ammonia, food environments, fresh water, many petroleum products and organic materials and some mild acid environments. They are found in bearings, valves, lighters and writing instruments.AISI type 430 stainless steel balls provide fair to-good corrosion resistance. They resist corrosion from fresh water, steam, food environments, dairy products, nitric acid and many petroleum products and organic material. Applications include balls in cosmetics agitators such as nail polish and eyeliners,as dispenser pump balls and valve balls.AISI type 440C stainless steel balls offer the maximum in material strength and fair corrosion resistance. They resist alcohol, food environments, fresh water, many petroleum products, organic materials and steam. Type 440C balls are used in bearings, valves, locking mechanisms, fasteners and quick-disconnect couplings.AISI type 440C Vacuum Melt is processed by Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) to reduce impurities for very demanding applications. Nickel based super alloys for high temperature, stainless steels for nuclear and aerospace, Cobalt based alloy for medical, high purity copper alloys and very clean magnetic alloys for high permeability are typical applications for 440C Vacuum Melt.LESCALLOY BG42 VIM-VAR steel is a martensitic, stainless high speed steel that combines the tempering, hot hardness and hardness retention characteristics of M50 high speed steel with the corrosion and oxidation resistance of 440C stainless. BG42 is double vacuum melted to consistently assure high cleanliness and superior properties. It is ideal for aerospace bearings, critical applications, cutlery and other uses that require excellent wear and corrosion resistance.