Alumina Oxide ceramic balls may be used at temperatures up to 3180 ºF.  Ceramic balls are extremely hard, resistant to abrasion, and immune to all furnace atmospheres.  Applications where alumina oxide balls are used include chemical pumps, down-hole pumps, valves, bearings, gages, flowmeters, etc.  online contact form

Corrosion Resistance:
Alumina oxide balls resist corrosion and abrasion extremely well and maintain dimensional stability at temperatures up to 1734ºC (3180 ºF).  Al2O3 balls may be used in many corrosive chemicals, salts and acids where a material that resists oxidation is required.   

Standard Fractional Alumina Oxide (Al2O3) Balls
The most common ceramic ball material is alumina oxide Al2O3.  Most standard fractional inch and metric size Al2O3 balls are available off the shelf (see below), many other sizes are and grades are also available from stock or special order. 

1/8", 3/16", 1/4",  5/16", 3/8", 1/2", 9/16",5/16", 11/16", 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1-1/8",1-1/4", 1-3/8", 1-1/2", 1-3/4"

Zirconia Balls
High – precision zirconia balls are available in many sizes.  Zirconia balls are most commonly used as check valves in flow control applications.  When subject to stress by impact, grinding, or cracking, a zirconia ball undergoes “transformation toughening” which stops cracks from spreading and actually makes the ball stronger in the stressed area than what it was originally.  online contact form

Corrosion Resistance:
Zirconia balls also feature resistance to abrasion and corrosion and are chemically inert to molten metals, organic solvents, caustics, and most acids.  In addition, zirconia balls maintain high strength at temperatures up to 982ºC (1800 ºF).  Some sizes are available from stock; others may be manufactured to your specifications.

Available sStock Size 1/8"-1/2", 1"-1-3/4"

Silicon Carbide Balls

Balls manufactured from Silicon Carbide are generally not in stock at Industrial Tectonics.  Due to cost and lead time considerations of raw material, ITI would advise our customers to investigate the possibility of utilizing an alumina oxide ball, or another more readily available suitable material for their application when possible.  ITI is capable of producing silicon carbide balls on a special order basis once material is procured. 

Available Stock Size 1/8"-1/2", 1"-1-3/4"

Silicon Nitride Balls

The most common use for silicon nitride balls is in bearings.  Silicon nitride bearing balls have a coefficient of thermal expansion just 25% if most steel balls, so there is less friction generated in the bearing as heat increases.  The low thermal conductivity of silicon nitride balls reduces the amount of heat absorbed, thus reducing cooling system requirements.  Some sizes are available from stock; others may be manufactured to your specifications 

Available Stock Size 1/8"-1/2", 1"-1-3/4"

Synthetic Sapphire Balls

Synthetic sapphire balls are used in applications requiring hardness, lightness, corrosion-resistance and electrical non-conductivity such as bearings, and as wear points in instruments.  Commonly mounted on stems, ruby sapphire balls are also used as probes in coordinate measuring machines, in gauging devices, and in as floats in flowmeters where precise diameter tolerance is important.  Ruby sapphire balls have a coefficient of thermal expansion just 25% that of most metals.  Some sizes are available from stock; others may be manufactured to your specifications.  online contact form

Corrosion Resistance:
Synthetic sapphire balls or as commonly referred to Ruby Sapphire balls are inert to most acids, and/or hydroxides.  Ruby Sapphire balls are resistant to a large variety of reagents even at very high temperatiures (1800ºF).  Hydrogen fluoride does not attack ruby sapphire up to 570ºF.

Available Stock Size 1/8"-1/2", 1"-1-3/4"