Tips for Avoiding Industrial Bearing Contamination and Maximizing Service Life

Most industrial bearing failures can ultimately be traced back to some form of contamination – i.e. the ingress of foreign substances past the seals. Basically, the unclean working conditions found in most factories along with wet or humid operating environments are two of the biggest enemies of bearings’ long-term performance and reliability.

How much does a little contamination hurt? To put it into perspective, it’s not uncommon for internal clearances of precision bearing components to measure in the range of ten-thousandths of an inch (0.0001”). Comparatively, particles of dirt and other abrasives are often larger than one-thousandth of an inch (0.001”), so debris can easily damage a bearing beyond its tolerance limits. That’s why preventing bearing contamination and corrosion is crucial, as well as knowing how to identify the typical performance issues that arise.

As one of the industry’s leading bearing manufacturers and distributors, BSC can often save you the cost of a full replacement through our comprehensive bearing remanufacturing and repair services. We can also provide you with complete sets of quality replacement bearings when necessary. In either case, we’ll give you a cost-optimized solution that keeps your equipment up and running with minimum downtime.

Preventive Measures to Prevent Bearing Contamination and Corrosion:

Careful control of all working areas, including tools and supporting equipment, will help prevent contamination and ultimately prolong bearing service life. Likewise, workers should only handle bearing components with clean, dry hands to prevent accidental contamination – even minor amounts of moisture or hand oil can begin the corrosion process.

Below is a list of basic procedures outlined by the Anti-friction Bearing Manufacturers Association (AFBMA) for maintaining cleanliness in handling bearings in factory environments:

• Always use clean tools with clean hands, workspaces, and surroundings.
• During disassembly, thoroughly clean and remove all dirt and residue from the housing before exposing the bearings and raceways.
• Thoroughly clean the interior housing and raceways before replacing bearings.
• Treat all used bearings as carefully as you would new ones in case any of the components will be remanufactured or reused later.
• Use clean, fresh solvents, flushing oils, and lint-free cleaning cloths for every job to prevent cross-contamination.
• Cover and protect disassembled bearings to prevent accidental contamination.
• Likewise, keep bearings sealed or covered in oil-proof wrapping when not in use.
• Install new bearings as they are removed from packages to prevent exposure to moisture, dirt, or other contaminants.

Fluid Flush / Relubrication

Obviously, in some use cases the ingress of moisture cannot be entirely prevented (e.g. some types of marine bearings). To maximize bearing life in these applications, regular relubrication is necessary – purging the contaminated grease from the bearing and replacing it with fresh grease periodically, before damage can occur.

Preventing Abrasive Damage

Robust bearing seals are required for many industrial bearings, especially those used in equipment that processes or generates abrasive byproducts. Essentially, there’s no way to protect the internal bearing components from these tiny abrasive particles aside from using the most reliable sealing technology possible. In applications that deal with extreme levels of contamination, we may suggest alternative bearings that use more robust sealing technologies.

Preventing Water Intrusion and Rust

Likewise, robust bearing seals are all that stand between internal components and the corrosive effects of water. Even relatively small amounts of moisture intrusion can contaminate the lubricant and lead to rust over time. Periodically check the condition of your seals to ensure no damage or gaps form which could allow water to get through. If you’re consistently dealing with water contamination issues, we may suggest a more effective waterproof bearing seal type.

Committed to Quality Industrial Bearings Since 1933

BSC is one of America’s leading independent manufacturers and repair sources for industrial bearing projects. Founded in 1933, we provide industry-leading experience in virtually all bearing types – ball, cylindrical, thrust, and standard interchange bearings.

Through our full-service repair, refurbishment, and reconditioning options, we aim to provide customers with the most sustainable, cost-effective solution to their unique industrial bearing needs.