16mm Loose Steel Balls

Steel balls like this are made primarily from impacted lengths of wire, then ground to a spherical shape. The balls are hardened and tempered through their whole diameter in an electric furnace. Grade 100 Chrome Steel, when formed this way, has a sphericity of 0.0025mm and a hardness of HRC 60-67.

Our 16mm steel balls are made from AISI 52100 Grade 100 Chrome Steel. This compound is made from Chromium, Manganese, Carbon, Silicon, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Ferrite. These chemicals together form a hard, finely grained Martensitic Steel. This alloy is remarkably resistant to corrosion and wear, making it an excellent choice for applications involving heavy loads and high speed.

Typical uses for these balls, aside from inside bearings, include cocoa grinders, spray paint agitators, one way valves and even decoration. San Francisco International Airport has 5 foot diameter ball bearings supporting the building, which helps minimise damage during earthquakes.

Our 16mm Steel balls are available in packs of 10, 100, 200, 500 or 1000.

Please see this video for more information: