A General Review of the Materials & Coatings used for Rolling Element Bearings in Food Industry

In the food and beverage industry, rolling element bearings are subjected to different ways of degradation and damage during their duties. Environmental and corrosive issues may really be a problem as they can impact directly the working conditions of those guiding components but also the corrosion products may alter the production goods themselves if some precautions are not foreseen. Usually working under high demand (24h/day and 7days/week) these rude environmental conditions led the manufacturers to make use of specialty materials, coatings and solutions within their designs.

This talk intends to review the materials and heat treatments (Stainless steel bearing steels, ceramic, HNS), the surface treatments and coatings that were developed but also the technical sealing solutions and their materials that are commonly used (Elastomeric materials) and the lubrication medias (USDA H1, H2, NSF, ...).

Some industrial example of damages will be also shown.