Whether you're a company specializing in the food, automotive or medical sectors, corrosion of steel parts represents a major challenge that needs to be addressed. Bearings, bushings and washers are essential components in many industrial applications, but they are also particularly vulnerable to corrosion due to their constant exposure to hostile environments. Corrosion can lead to costly breakdowns, production interruptions and significant increases in maintenance costs. Corrosion can occur for a variety of reasons, and there are many ways to prevent it. By following these tips, you can not only extend the life of your parts, but also optimize the performance of your machines while reducing maintenance costs.

Moisture corrosion

This is the most common type of corrosion, caused by contact with chemical elements such as acids. This can occur if the air is too humid, or if the lubricant in the bearing has been contaminated by water.

Friction corrosion

Also known as tribo-corrosion or tribo-oxidation. This type of corrosion can be divided into two sub-sections :

• Contact corrosion : this appears as black and brown spots and is due to micro-sliding movements between the shaft and the inner ring. This phenomenon combines with oxygen, and the detached particles oxidize. Contact rust will not only focus on the part in question, but also on other parts in contact with it.

Example of fretting corrosion

• False Brinell effect : this type of corrosion is caused by micro-movements under the effect of cyclic vibrations. Depending on various factors, such as vibration intensity, loads and lubrication, cavities form on the surfaces. These micro-movements can remove the lubrication protecting the part, leading to corrosion. In this case, the result is abrasive wear.

Example of a false Brinell effect

How to protect yourself?

There are several ways of minimizing corrosion on steel parts, or simply avoiding it.

• part design : for bearings, corrosion can be minimized by improving sealing and choosing a specific anti-corrosion lubricant.
• Delivery and storage conditions : protect the part with VCI paper/film, and ensure correct temperature and low humidity.

• Assembly : a clean assembly environment and the wearing of gloves when installing the part concerned.
• Delivery : eliminate sources of vibration.
• Commissioning : regular lubricant checks and timely relubrication.