AISI 52100 (100Cr6, SUJ2, GCr15) Steel Balls 0.5mm-100mm
AISI 52100 steel balls are high-precision, high-performance spherical components manufactured from AISI 52100 (100Cr6, SUJ2, GCr15), a classic high-carbon chromium bearing steel widely recognized as the industry standard for rolling element applications worldwide.
Core Mechanical & Physical Properties
After strict quenching and tempering heat treatment, AISI 52100 steel balls achieve a Rockwell hardness of HRC 60-66, a key characteristic that delivers outstanding wear resistance and surface hardness—critical for withstanding continuous rolling, sliding, and contact stress in dynamic applications. The material’s high chromium content forms fine chromium carbide precipitates, enhancing its contact fatigue resistance and load-bearing capacity, which significantly extends the service life of components in high-cycle operating conditions. Additionally, AISI 52100 steel balls exhibit excellent dimensional stability and low deformation under temperature fluctuations and heavy loads, as well as good machinability that supports ultra-precision finishing.
Precision Manufacturing & Quality Standards
AISI 52100 steel balls are produced through a sophisticated, multi-step manufacturing process to ensure uncompromising precision: cold heading for near-net shape forming, heat treatment for uniform hardness distribution, centerless grinding for spherical accuracy, lapping/polishing for ultra-smooth surface finish, and 100% non-destructive testing (including ultrasonic flaw detection and surface defect inspection). The finished steel balls meet stringent international precision grades, from commercial grade (G100) to ultra-precision grades (G5, G10), with sphericity tolerance down to a few micrometers and surface roughness Ra ≤ 0.01 μm for high-end grades. All production processes comply with ANSI/ABMA (American Bearing Manufacturers Association), ISO 3290 (Rolling bearings - Steel balls), and DIN 5401 standards, with strict quality control for roundness, size consistency, and surface integrity.
Key Applications
Thanks to their superior performance and cost-effectiveness, AISI 52100 steel balls are the primary choice for rolling element bearings (radial ball bearings, thrust ball bearings) across industries. Their typical applications include:
- Automotive and motorcycle components (engine bearings, wheel hubs, transmission systems)
- Industrial machinery and machine tools (spindles, gearboxes, conveyor systems)
- Precision instruments and measuring equipment (gyroscopes, calipers, optical devices)
- Aerospace and defense (aviation bearings, missile guidance systems)
- General mechanical hardware (casters, linear motion systems, ball screws)
Competitive Advantages
- Industry-proven reliability: AISI 52100 is the most mature and widely adopted bearing steel, with a well-documented performance track record in global engineering applications.
- Optimal cost-performance: Balances exceptional mechanical properties with a relatively affordable production cost, making it the go-to material for both standard and high-performance ball bearing production.
- Uniform performance: Strict material control and heat treatment processes ensure consistent hardness, microstructure, and mechanical properties across all batches of steel balls.
- Low operational noise: Ultra-smooth surface finish and high spherical accuracy minimize friction and vibration during operation, delivering quiet and stable performance for precision machinery.
AISI 52100 steel balls are customizable in terms of diameter (from 0.5mm micro-balls to large-diameter balls over 100mm), precision grade, and surface treatment (e.g., zinc plating, nickel plating, passivation) to adapt to different working environments (corrosion resistance, lubrication requirements) and application scenarios.