SKF NoWear Coated Bearings: Enhanced Wear-Resistance and Friction Reduction for Extreme Operating Conditions
NoWear is a wear-resistant carbon coating that can be applied to the rolling elements and inner ring raceway(s) of a bearing (designation suffix L7DA) or only the rolling elements (designation suffix L5DA) (fig. 1).
A physical vapour deposition process applies the wear-resistant carbon coating. Thickness of the coating ranges from 1 to 3 μm, depending on the size of the bearing. The hardness of the coating is 1 200 HV10.
NoWear coated bearing surfaces retain the toughness of the underlying material while adopting the hardness, improved friction properties and wear-resistance of the coating.
During the running-in period, minute amounts of the coating material are transferred to the counter-surfaces. This coating reduces friction and improves resistance against wear and smearing, even in bearings where only the rolling elements are coated.
NoWear coated bearings may provide new possibilities for existing applications operating under severe conditions. They can provide new design possibilities while requiring no major design changes. Typical applications where NoWear coated bearings are used include:
NoWear coated bearings are not intended for vacuum or other completely dry running applications. The coating does not act as a barrier against oxygen, and is therefore not recommended as a corrosion inhibitor.
