Stainless steel bearing

Stainless steel bearings use corrosion-resistant steel, usually martensitic chromium grades, for rings and rolling elements. They are the standard choice wherever moisture, cleaning agents or aggressive media would attack conventional 100Cr6 bearing steel — typically in food and beverage processing, packaging, medical equipment and outdoor applications. In hygiene-critical areas they are often sealed on both sides and greased with food-grade H1 lubricants. Corrosion-resistant steels generally reach slightly lower hardness than 100Cr6, so load ratings sit below those of comparable standard bearings; always check the manufacturer's catalogue values. Prefixes such as S, SS or W identify stainless versions.