What Are The Perks Of Silicon Nitride In The Engine Components And Bearing Applications

It’s because of the remarkable and unique properties of silicon nitride that makes it advantageous in the engine components & bearing applications. Bearings produced from the material have already got utilized in the significant engines. In fact, it’s one of the monolithic ceramic materials that withstand thermal gradients and thermal shock produced in hydrogen and oxygen rocket engines.

It offers a multitude of advantages – starting from high wear and low friction to chemical resistance, increased electrical resistivity, and high-temperature capabilities. In addition to this, it happens to be nonmagnetic and comprises low specific weight, offering a longer life span of the service. In recent days, silicon carbide gets used in the brake discs of prestigious road cars too.

Nonetheless, in spite of the multiple benefits, nitrides happen to be extremely hard wearing & require diamond-grinding techniques to process once it gets fired. It resembles the properties of silicon carbide – given the fact that silicon nitride gets utilized for applications where the importance of physical wear gets noticed.

Its Importance In The Automotive Industry

Silicon nitride is used in the car industry predominantly due to its manufacturing engine elements. In the diesel engines, glow plugs manufactured from it allow speedier start-up. As a matter of fact, the swirl chambers/pre-combustion chambers lead to lower noise & reduced emissions.

Considering turbochargers, it reduce engine lag as well as emissions. On the other hand, it gets utilized for rocker arm pads in the petrol engines for reducing wear. The material also gets used in the exhaust gas control valves to increase acceleration. As per estimations, more than 300,000 silicon nitride turbochargers are developed every year.

Bearings

It gets used for ceramic bearings and hybrid ceramic bearings because silicon nitride happens to a bearing material. In these applications, the ceramic balls get employed effectively in tandem with the steel races. The Silicon Nitride Balls and bearings usually are harder than the metal. They can contact with bearing tracks upon which it gets reduced. As a result, it offers around 80% less friction & extended service life, which is usually thrice or more times longer than the steel.

Owing to their massive importance, silicon nitride tends to be an excellent corrosion resistance material. As a matter of fact, it also enables extremely high-temperature operation. The silicon nitride balls and bearings are found in wind turbines, high & automotive bearings, industrial bearings, bicycles, rollerblades, and even skateboards.

Because it gets ranked high in the company’s technical ceramics, its usage has garnered immense prominence in the engine components & bearing applications. Thus, this compiles everything to learn about its importance in the engine components as well as bearing applications.