Plastic ball bearings to fit shaft sizes from 3mm to 50mm diameter
See product table below for dimensions and technical drawings
See Products Variants below for flanged options
Our standard plastic ball bearings have acetal (POM-C) rings and nylon (PA66) cages. They are supplied from our UK stock and offer a low-cost, corrosion resistant option. These bearings are also non-conductive. Bearings with glass balls or plastic balls are non-magnetic while those with 316 stainless steel balls are very slightly magnetic. Acetal resin has excellent corrosion resistance. As it is a much softer material than chrome steel or 440 grade stainless steel, plastic bearings are only suitable for low load and low speed use. Plastic bearings cannot be manufactured to tight tolerances so, like 316 marine grade bearings, they are only suitable for low precision applications. Plastic bearings are significantly lighter than steel bearings. Most of our plastic bearings are supplied from stock in the UK. See Products Variants below for flanged plastic bearings.
The plastic bearings, shown in the table below, are highly resistant to saltwater and many aggressive chemicals. We can supply plastic bearings with alternative ring or cage materials, such as PEEK, PTFE or PVDF, for greater corrosion resistance or extreme temperatures. Please note that plastic is more prone to temperature induced expansion and contraction. The standard bearings are open but may be supplied with plastic shields on request. See Bearing Materials for more information on plastic grades.
Plastic bearings are used in the marine industry and, depending on the ball and cage materials, can be permanently submerged in seawater. They are also used in corrosive environments in the food and beverage industry, the pharmaceutical industry or any low load, low precision application that is too corrosive for 440 grade stainless steel bearings. PVDF bearings are often used in swimming pools due to their resistance to chlorine. For excellent corrosion resistance but higher load capacity, we offer ceramic bearings in zirconia or silicon nitride.
Acetal bearings with nylon cages have a temperature range of -30°C to 100°C. This range can be extended with the use of different ring and cage materials. PTFE can be used down to -190°C while PEEK is a good high temperature option for up to 250°C.
Click on INFO in the rows below to display technical drawings of the bearings with load and speed data. Please note that the maximum loads and speeds are used in theoretical life calculations. It is recommended to use bearings at significantly less than the maximum load and speed ratings to ensure reasonable bearing life.
