Application of PCD wear parts in bearing industry

We recognises the increasing demands placed on bearing systems to deliver extreme performance. The materials manufactured by Element Six, and enabled by our advanced materials processing, are ideally positioned to deliver the performance required by modern bearing systems across a variety of applications, including subterranean steerable motors, renewable energy technology and subsea drive systems.

Premium bearing assemblies are required to carry high loads, operate with low interfacial friction and often operate at relatively high temperatures and variable load regimes. These bearing environments place extreme demands on the bearing materials, and are therefore best served by extreme performance supermaterials such as polycrystalline diamond (PCD).

PCD’s low friction and extreme thermal conductivity is exploited in PCD bearings and pump and turbine parts used for oil and gas drilling equipment.

PCD’s extreme wear resistance gives extended tool life to the PCD wear pads used on high precision metal reaming tools and work-rest blades on centreless grinding machines.

The processability of PCD, together with its extreme strength, toughness and wear resistance, is utilised in the scribing of glass for flat panel displays used for TV and mobile phones, as well as glass in solar panels and the automotive industry.