Chrome Steel Balls

100Cr6, i.e. the chrome steel used for bearings application, is the most widely used material for balls and is also known as 52100 or SUJ2 steel. The steel sources that ICT uses guarantee very fine-grain martensitic microstructure, which allows high hardness and exceptional wear and fatigue resistance properties.

Our chrome steel balls are widely used worldwide in various applications, from bearings to ball screws, from constant velocity joints to check valves, from automotive steering to seating systems, just to mention few. The presence of our logo NHB Inside on these final applications is always a guarantee of superior quality of the finished assembled product.

Through our partner we produce more than 4 billions a year of chrome steel balls. This allows the flexibility of a wide offer of high quality balls, served worldwide with just-in-time policy.

Quality range includes the very special Super Premium (insiderire link alla pagina) specification besides the best ISO 3290 grades, i.e. G3, G5 and G10, for noise sensitive bearings. We offer G10 and G16 grades for HUB wheel bearings and G20, G24 and G28 for constant velocity joints. However we can support our customers to chose the best fit products for their own needs. Just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the format “Request a Quote” to explain your needs.

Stainless Steel Balls

Our offer of stainless steel balls cover multiple types of materials.

Balls in AISI 304/302 steel are dedicated to those applications whose conditions require corrosion and toughness performances not available in hardenable stainless steels. Exemple of applications are couplings, valves and pumps

AISI 316 stainless steel balls have exceptional corrosion resistance thanks to their higher nickel and molybdenum content. Developed to resist in contact with sulphuric, phosphoric and acetic acid, they are extensively used in applications involving photographic chemicals, inks, rayon, rubber, textile bleaches, dye stuffs and high temperature equipments. Examples of such applications are medical, health and beauty aid, food and beverage parts and assemblies.

AISI 420 steel balls show good wear characteristics, high hardness and excellent resistance to corrosion from mild atmospheres, fresh water, steam, blood, ammonia, petroleum products and mild acidic environments.

Balls in AISI 430 steel offer good resistance to mild atmospheric conditions, steam, dairy products, nitric acid and many petroleum products and organic materials, and provide superior resistance at elevated temperatures compared to AISI 302 or 304 or 316 materials. Balls in this steel are passivated. Among the applications we can count nail polishing mixing beads, agricultural and industrial equipment.

Balls in AISI 440C steel provide maximum hardness, toughness and dimensional stability. After heat treatment process, they reach high values of hardness that allow excellent properties of resistance to rolling-contact fatigue. Excellent is also the resistance to mild acids, alkalis, food, fresh water and air. They are passivated to remove free iron contaminants and to facilitate spontaneous formation of a protective passive film. They are widely used in rolling bearings, actuators and pumps.

For any inquiry or request of info just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Alluminum Balls

Our offer of aluminum balls is mostly made of type 2017 aluminum, i.e. solution treated copper alloy with natural aging to T4 conditions. Indeed balls also in 6061 and 7075 alloys are available.

Aluminum balls are light and corrosion resistant. They exhibit excellent electrical and heat conductivity properties. On the other side these balls have not high mechanical strength.

The 2017 alloy is very cold headable and this property increase the machinability and reduce the production costs: balls in this alloy are used in car seat belt device as safety item. Aluminum 6061 is one of the most versatile of the heat-treatable alloys: it is generally used where welding or brazing is required. On the other side, aluminum 7075 is among the alloys with highest strength and, for this reason, may be used also by aircraft industry. Both 6061 and 7075 alloys are very good applicants for hard anodize.

ICT can support customers to make the right choice of aluminum balls for the application. Just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Tungsten Carbide Balls

High hardness and dimensional stability make tungsten carbide balls the preferred choice for precision hydraulic valves, high-load bearings, inertial navigation systems, ball screws, linear bearings in slideways, gauging and checking instruments and meters. They are also used for ballizing, to work-harden and to improve fretting fatigue strength. Other features are their high resistance to wear, impact, elevated temperatures, corrosion, humidity, abrasion and poor lubrication conditions.

Special chapter of tungsten carbide balls must be dedicated to the micro-balls for ball pens writing. In this field the key know-how is the choice of the right chemical composition of the material together with proper surface finishing grade in order to have the perfect flow of the ink on ball and a consistent and long life writing experience. Our offer of pen balls in tungsten carbide cover the range from 0.4 to 1.2 mm of diameter.

ICT can offer also balls in cobalt-chromium-tungsten alloy who find their application in industries as aerospace, petro-chemistry, battery, etc., where high temperature and pressure requirements exist.

For any inquiry or request of more info just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Ceramic Balls

Silicon nitride balls are used in high technology industries such as aerospace and defense, inside hybrid bearings and full ceramic bearings. Main features are the excellent corrosion resistance from chemicals and other demanding environmental conditions, the reduced density that minimize centrifugal force, skidding and wear under high speed and acceleration, the resistance to fatigue of around 10 times more than in chrome steel balls, the electric insulation properties and capability to resist very high temperatures. Our offers range from 0.5 to 63.5 mm, in quality grades starting from G3.

Despite silicon carbide balls are less frequently used than other ceramic materials due to its raw material costs and difficulty to machine, they offer the best heat and corrosion resistance of all the ceramic balls. Their ideal usage is under low loads, low to moderate speeds and in highly corrosive environments.

Zirconia oxide balls have the highest strength and toughness at room temperature of all the advanced ceramic materials. Therefore they offer superior load bearing capability. We provide zirconia oxide balls in the range from 0.5 to 38.1 mm, in quality grades starting from G3.

Alumina oxide balls are often used in processing equipment to improve bearing performance. They are lighter, stiffer, smoother, harder, corrosion resistant, require less lubrication and have a lower thermal expansion than their chrome steel counterparts. All these properties allow the bearing to run at higher speeds and higher operational temperatures with lower torque.

For any inquiry or request of more info, just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Plastic Balls

ICT offers colored plastic balls in any customized color, in any size from 0.5 to 200 mm and in a plenty of different materials. Here below only main ones are listed: many more are also available.

Acetal balls offer predictable mechanical, chemical and electrical properties over a broad temperature range for extended period of times. They exhibit good fatigue resistance, impact resistance, tensile and shear strength and dimensional stability. They have very low moisture absorption characteristics and maintain a natural lubricity that provide a low coefficient of friction when in contact with other materials. This material is also known as polyoxymethylene (POM) and polyacetal and with commercial names Delrin (a DuPont product) and Celcon (a Hoechst Celanese product).

Nylon balls are insoluble in diluted mineral acids, in most organic acids and in common solvents. They are exceptionally resistant to alkalis, petroleum oil and greases at temperatures up to 150°C. Furthermore nylon balls are an excellent choice for applications that require a lightweight, resilient and abrasion-resistant material that performs well in hot, chemically aggressive and humid environments. Used without lubrication, they provide greater thoughness and ductility than most plastics.

Polyethylene balls are a low-cost thermoplastic alternative that provide excellent abrasion resistance and high impact characteristics. They are available in low density and high density grades (respectively LDPE and HDPE) and are also used to reduce unpleasant odors. The smooth surface of polyethilene balls prevents chemicals from depositing on their surface. Typical applications are pharmaceutical, medical and electronic sector, as well as where it is desirable to minimize the evaporation of exposed liquids.

Polypropylene balls have very good chemical resistance and low density, as well as the highest melting point of the volume thermoplastics. They are excellent electrical insulator, with low dielectric constant and loss factors. This type of plastic balls is highly resistant to acids, alkalis, alchools and many inorganic chemicals. Furthermore, they are non-toxic.

Teflon balls do resist to any industrial acid or caustic as well as to any solvent. They are reccomended for applications where light weight, non-metallic and erosion-resistant properties are required. The maximum work temperature is of 280°C.

Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) balls show high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range. With very high melting temperature, excellent chemical, electrical and high energy radiation resistancee properties, this product is part of high performance plastic balls.

Balls in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) belong to the same cathegory. They are made of a syntetic fluoropolymer that shows extraordinary chemical resistance and is insoluble in all known solvents: it is attacked onlu by molten alkali and by fluorine at high temperatures. PTFE balls are fire-resistant and may be used up to 260°C.

Balls in Vespel (registered brand of DuPont and one of the highest performing engineering plastics currently available) can continuously operate from cryogenic temperatures to 290°C (with excursions up to 480°C) without melting.

For any inquiry or request of more info, just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Glass Balls

Like balls in AISI 300-series stainless steels, also glass balls resist corrosion and chemical absorption and are non magnetic. For all these properties they are ideal for valve applications in medical devices, instrumentation gauges, pumps, water treatment bearings, roll-on applicators and other uses.

The adventage of glass balls is in the cost. While most of the AISI 300-series steels contain between 8 and 14% of nickel – a material whose availability and cost have always been quite volatile – glass is mostly made of silica, which is abundant on the earth. Furthermore they are dimensionally stable and can withstand high temperatures (up to 290°C).

ICT offer of glass balls is of three types: soda-lime, borosilicate and black materials. Sizes are from 0.8 up to 50 mm of diameter, while available colors are pratically infinite.

Soda-lime are recommended fo applications requiring hardness and excellent resistance to corrosion. They are normally used in economical check valves that are not subject to mechanical shock.

In applications where high temperatures and/or sudden temperature changes are expected, bosorilicate glass is instead recommended for its additional resistance to chemical corrosion and to temperatures fluctuation.

Black glass balls are used in a variety of functions, especially in instrumentation like flow-meters, aircraft slip and turn indicators. They are moderately resistant to corrosion.

We do also provide colorful glass and marble balls for toy and decoration purposes.  For any inquiry or request of more info, just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Brass & Copper Balls

Brass balls as well as pure copper balls are used in electrical devices, petrochemical industry operations and consumer products such as appliances. Small diameter balls are often used in valves. Their electrical conductivity makes brass and copper balls a good option for electronic applications.

ICT precision brass and copper balls exhibit a very good resistance to water, gas, oil and chemicals like benzene, butane, methyl acetone and ethyl chloride. Furthermore they have low friction properties and are relatively soft. Additions of small amounts of alloying elements like Cr, Zr, Ag, Cd and Mg allow to improve the mechanical properties. Beryllium copper balls are also used when higher strength and stiffness, combined with good conductivity, are required.

Typical applications include gasoline rollover valves, fire equipment hose couplings and electrical contacts. Furthermore they have found use in artistic applications as well, but they are not recommended where exposure to corrosive agents or high mechanical stress are key factors of the application.

ICT offer brass and copper balls in the range from 1 to 180 mm of diameter. For any inquiry or request of more info, get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Rubber Balls

High performances and lightweight make of rubber and technopolymer balls an increasingly popular component. In addition to the more traditional seamless Nitrile Butadiene rubber (NBR), Silicone rubber and Neoprene rubber (whose balls are available for non critical applications), new materials have been introduced and are included in ICT products offer.

Balls in EPDM (Ethilene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer) rubber are made of an elastomer which is characterized by a wide range of applications. They are compatible with fireproof hydraulic fluids, ketones, hot and cold water and alkalis. Other properties are the resistance to heat, ozone, polar substances and steam, together with good electrical insulation capabilities.

Balls in Viton rubber are available in diameters from 1 to 200 mm and are largely used in check and safety valves, special pumps and in other applications at high temperature and with corrosive environment. Viton is a brand of synthetic rubber and fluoropolymer elastomer that is registered trademark of DuPont performance Elastomers. Different Viton grades are available, depending on fluorine content that ranges mostly from 66 to 70%. The optimal grade choice depends on the application.

Polyurethane balls have excellent fuel and oil resistance, with high firmness, tensile and tear properties.

Also balls in Santoprene Thermo Plastic Elastomer (TPE) are used in safety valves and in diaphragm pumps and in any application that requires a flexible material but limited chemical resistance. The Santoprene material combines the quality of the rubber with the machinability of thermoplastic materials. The balls are lighter than water (i.e. they float in water) and are available in black as well as in other colors. ICT range goes from 5 to 115 mm of diameter.

Bearings, pumps and special valves are instead the main applications for balls in PEEK (Poly-Ether-Ether-Ketone), a thermoplastic material that guarantees high mechanical features like wear resistance, tensile strength, abrasion, temperature and corrosion resistance, despite it is quite difficult to machine. Precision balls in PEEK are used in medical devices and industrial equipment that are exposed to high temperatures, wear and abrasion. ICT offers these balls in the range from 1.5 to 350 mm of diameter.

For any inquiry or requesto of more info, just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Aircraft Balls

Special chapter is dedicated to balls for aircraft application, indeed made of different high performing materials and by documented high technological processes.

Through our certified partner we can provide balls in special steels like M50 and M50Nil AMS6491, AISI 52100 AMS 6440 and AMS 6444, with VIM (Vacuum Induction Melting) and VAR (Vacuum Arc Remelt) process too, as well as in silicon nitride, zirconia and tungsten carbide material. We can also offer balls both in AISI 440C stainless steel (AMS 5618 and AMS 5630) with sub-zero treatment in order to guarantee excellent dimensional stability up to temperatures of 150°C and in corrosion resistant unhardened steel AISI 302/304/316 (AMS 5515, AMS 5513 and AMS 5524).

All products – offered also in small batches – are capable of meeting the stringent quality requirements of the aerospace industry and are available in the range from 2 up to 42 mm.

Steel balls are of course eddy-current inspected at 100% and all metrological, metallurgical and raw material certifications are provided to customers together with products. Quality grades range from G3 to G20.

For any inquiry or request of more info, just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Phenolic resin balls

ICT can offer phenolic resin balls for pool, snooker, carom billiards and the more 800 other varieties of the billiard games that exist throughout the world. Furthermore our offer targets also other sectors like industrial, computer, medical and other games like bowling.

ICT balls range goes from 9.525 to over 175 mm of diameter, with different grades of phenolic resins depending on the final application.

Premium phenolic resin is dedicated to the high precision billiard balls for professionals and is characterized by finer grain that results in very smooth and glossy surface capable to last over long period of times. In addition, through different hardening steps, the material shows a transparent vitrified surface that is highly wear-resistant, making both the ball and the cloth of table last longer. All the balls pass through a very stringent release procedures by which they are controlled for density, balance, diameter tolerance, roundness, color precision, surface polish and brilliance.

We can even create custom pool sets based on your specific needs, including graphic design balls with your choice of emblem. Private label and/or advertisement gadgets are also possible for these products.

For valves, pumps and flow control application ICT offer is based on custom formulated phenolic resin or G-10 glass epoxy resins. These solutions offer excellent abrasion and impact resistance and are suitable for replacement of stainless steel in many applications.

Phenolic resin balls offer also an excellent combination of chemical and heat resistance with superior tensile and compressive strength properties than plastic balls. They also perform as Frac balls in oil and natural gas applications.

For any inquiry or request of more info, just get in touch with us directly at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your needs.

Other Materials

ICT balls are also available in a plenty of further different materials. If you don’t find what you are looking for, get in touch with us at info@consulting-trading.com or by the “Request a Quote” format and explain us your requirements.

Bronze balls are made of high quality alloy created for environments subject to attack by gasoline, water and other solvents. Bronze offers resistance to corrosion and is an excellent electrical conductor. We can provide bronze balls for the electronic industry as well as to manufacture various valves.

Hastelloy (a nickel-molybdenum-chromium wrought alloy) balls are available from 3 to 100 mm of diameter. They find use in petrochemical process equipment, in gas turbines in the hot combustor zone sections and in industrial furnaces. These balls have excellent oxidation, corrosion, pitting, stress corrosion cracking and reducing media resistance. They are also resistant to sulfur compounds and chloride ions, that’s why they are also used in flue gas desulfurization systems.

Monel 400 balls are reccomended for applications requiring a very high resistance to corrosion. They are impervious to the effects of steam, gas, salt water, ammonia, calcium chloride and of the acids associated with food products, even at high temperatures. They are typically used in marine engineering, chemical and hydrocarbon processing equipment, valves, pumps and heat exchangers. ICT offer ranges from 1.5 to 100 mm of diameter.

Balls in K-Monel are available too. This material is an age hardenable version of the nickel-copper alloy Monel 400. For this reason Monel K500 balls have increased strength with excellent resistance to seawater corrosion. They are used in grease fittings and seawater applications and wherever additional hardness is required.

Inconel balls are made by a nickel-chromium precipitation-hardening alloy suited for high strength at temperatures above 700°C, with useful strength up to 980°C. These balls have also excellent properties and ductility at cryogenic temperatures.

Rock bit AISI S2 tool steel balls are designed to work well in the very extreme conditions of any drilling operation into the ground. The balls provide the strength and toughness that is required to withstand the heavy force and the abrasion of pulverized rock. Most of products are in the dimensional range from 6.35 to 12.7 mm of diameter and in quality grades G100 or G200.

Stellite (trade name from Deloro Stellite Holdings Corporation) balls provide excellent wear and high temperature resistance. Different grades of materials are available, depending on final application: special bearings, valves, slurry and homogeniser pumps and, more in general, anywhere high wear, corrosion and temperature resistances are demanded. Balls are provided in the passivated conditions.

Tantalum balls are used in electronic components, chemical equipment and nuclear reactors. They are completely immune to any chemical attack at temperatures below 150°C, except for acids containing fluoride ion and free sulphur trioxide.

Titanium balls are light weight, non magnetic and with good heat transfer properties. ICT offer ranges from 3 to 100 mm of diameter. These balls are used in valves, pumps and flow meters and in other applications where the ball must be resistant to oxiding acids and to organic chemical solutions, sea-water, hydrobromin and formin acids, chlorine, bromine and iodine as well as cold ammonio. Furthermore the combination of high strength, stiffness, good thoughnesss and low density make titanium balls an excellent choice for many aerospace applications. Thanks to their surface uniformity and good aestetics, ICT supplies titanium ball salso for jewelry use.

ICT can also provide gold balls to jewelry industry. Typical sizes are 3.175, 3.969, 4.172, 5.556 and 6.35 mm, in both 14K and 18K yellow gold sizes, in white gold and in nickel-free gold.

Platinum balls are especially suited for electrical and electronic contacts, thanks to the conductivity uniformity guaranteed by the very smooth surface finish. For the same reasons these balls are used also in jewelry. ICT offers them in a wide range of platinum alloys, including nickel, iridium and palladium. Platinum rivets for use in electrical contacts in automotive applications are also available.

Niobium balls are destined to jewelry industry too. This material is a shiny, white, soft and ductile metal and takes on a bluish tinge when exposed to air at room temperature for long time. For this reason, to be processed these balls require a protective atmosphere that minimizes any oxidation. They can be offered in different colors through anodizing.

Hollow, Drilled & Coated Balls

Hollow balls are offered in different material and sizes. For example those ones made in AISI 440A stainless steel are mainly used for transporting, moving, loading and unloading goods in cargo airplane. Viceversa the AISI 420 hollow stainless steel balls find mainly application for stop valves.

ICT offers hollow ball salso in plastic materials, like polypropylene, LDPE (Low-Density Polyethilene) and HDPE (High-Density Polyethilene), mostly for applications like heat loss and evaporation control, odor and mist control, check-valve ball in flow control. A very special application that we serve too is to camouflage lagoons, setting ponds, open pits, reservoirs and runoff basins to prevent birds from landing and nesting. In these cases the U.V. black hollow float balls have chemical resistant HDPE that withstands sun, rain, ice, snow and wind for a service life of over 10 years. They also prevent algal blooms in water tanks.

Very large hollow plastic balls (up to 800 mm) are used for display, technical research, telescope bodies, signage and large anymal toys. Made in polyethilene, they have a small hole in top that is completely enclosed with a welded plastic patch or threaded plug and are available in many colors.

Upon customers’ orders, ICT can source special-shaped balls as perforated or other remodeled balls that might be used for various applications as mechanical parts, in industries like aerospace, medical, electronic, semi conductor, automotive, marine, industrial and many more. Examples of these products are perforated balls (for rod-ends, for variable transmission, etc.), grooved balls, perforated balls with grooves, flat balls and many others. These parts may be supplied also in very small batches, pratically in all materials, including ceramics, and always in very close tolerances and smooth surface finish.

Furthermore ICT can offer balls with different types of coatings and plating. In addition to the more traditional zinc and chrome plating processes and to various plastics and rubber coatings of all types, we can perform different technical coatings through CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) and PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) technologies.

Specifically titanium carbide coated balls of AISI 440C AMS 5618 steel can drastically improve the bearing performances and life and are used in aircraft applications. Titanium nitride coating is also possible by PVD, basically on all sizes and plenty of materials, so offering a versatile combination of high hardness along with thoughness, low friction and good release properties.

More in general, there are a myriad of other coating choices available. For any inquiry and request of more info, just get in touch with our technicians at info@consulting-trading.com or through the “Request a Quote” format to explain your unique requirements.