I. Core Faults of Bearings in Petrochemical Equipment

The production facilities in the petrochemical industry are constantly operating under extreme conditions of high temperature, high pressure, strong corrosion, and continuous operation. If the bearings of key equipment such as refining pumps, compressors, reaction vessel mixers, and oil pipelines valves fail, it not only affects the operational efficiency of the entire production line but may also lead to safety accidents and significant economic losses. 

Common failure modes: 

Chemical Corrosion and Pitting Corrosion – The petroleum chemical medium contains components such as sulfides, chloride ions, organic acids, and alkaline solutions, which are highly corrosive. Ordinary bearing steel is rapidly eroded in these media, resulting in pitting corrosion and peeling on the raceway surface, and loss of accuracy. In an environment containing hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), ordinary lubricating grease is easily sulfided and decomposed, generating acidic by-products, causing the grease to acidify, the consistency to disintegrate, and ultimately leading to the bearing getting stuck. 

Hydrocarbon-soluble lubricating grease - Crude oil, gasoline, diesel, aromatics and other hydrocarbons have extremely strong solubilizing, diluting and scouring capabilities for ordinary lubricating grease. Mineral oil-based, synthetic hydrocarbon-based and even some silicon-based lubricating greases will gradually be dissolved and lost, resulting in the rupture of the lubricating film, dry grinding, overheating of the bearing and even shaft seizure. 

High temperatures lead to lubrication failure - The medium temperature in refining plants often reaches 150 to 300 degrees Celsius. Ordinary lubricating grease quickly carbonizes and evaporates at such high temperatures, losing its lubrication properties. Bearings become overheated and expand, eventually getting stuck or seizing the shaft. 

Fatigue failure due to continuous overload operation – The petrochemical equipment operates 24 hours without interruption, and the bearings of pumps and compressors are subjected to continuous radial loads and axial thrust. The fatigue life of ordinary bearings is sharply shortened, and they need to be replaced on average every 6 to 12 months, seriously affecting the continuity of production. 

II. Special purification of high-purity alloy steel + Anti-corrosion surface treatment - Resistance to chemical erosion

✅ Special purification treatment of high-purity alloy steel - NMT uses high-purity alloy steel that has undergone special purification treatment. Through an innovative gradient heat treatment process, a precise hardness gradient is formed from the surface to the core inside the bearing. This "outer firmness and inner flexibility" material characteristic enables it to simultaneously withstand high contact stress and impact loads, significantly improving the fatigue life compared to traditional processes. 

✅ Independently developed anti-corrosion surface treatment technology - For the highly corrosive environment in the petrochemical industry, NMT has applied its independently developed anti-corrosion surface treatment technology on the bearing surface. Even in humid or chemically corrosive environments, it can maintain long-term stable performance. The passivation protective layer effectively blocks the chemical erosion of sulfur compounds, chloride ions, organic acids, etc. 

✅ All stainless steel material (SUS304 / SUS316) option available – For environments with strong acids, strong alkalis, or high sulfur content, stainless steel bearings can be selected. The inner and outer rings, rolling elements, and cage are all made of stainless steel. SUS316 is more suitable for environments containing chloride ions or strong acidic media. 

✅ Ceramic ball hybrid bearings (optional) – For areas with extreme corrosion or electrical insulation requirements, a hybrid bearing composed of silicon nitride ceramic balls and stainless steel rings can be selected. It is almost corrosion-resistant and can operate in harsh conditions where corrosive media are present. 

III. Structure of Deep Groove Ball Bearings - Stable Support under High-Speed and Heavy-Duty Combined Conditions

The main shafts of refining pumps, the crankshafts of compressors, the stirring shafts of reactors, and other parts simultaneously bear high-speed rotation + continuous radial loads + bidirectional axial thrust. The bearings required to have high rigidity, low heat generation, and excellent high-speed performance. 

Advantages of the NMT deep groove ball bearing structure: 

Deep groove raceway design - capable of bearing both radial and bidirectional axial loads simultaneously, with a compact structure, suitable for the limited installation space of petrochemical equipment. Low friction coefficient, suitable for continuous high-speed operation. 

Precise grade clearance (C3 / C4) – Precisely select the internal clearance according to different temperatures and rotational speeds. For high-temperature conditions, choose C4 with a larger clearance to compensate for the thermal expansion difference between the inner and outer rings and prevent overheating and jamming. 

Full closed-loop control ultra-precision grinding system - The NMT production line adopts a full closed-loop control ultra-precision grinding system, equipped with an online measurement device with nanometer-level resolution, which continuously monitors and corrects processing parameters to ensure that the shape accuracy of the bearing ring groove reaches the sub-micron level. Each steel ball undergoes multi-spectral screening and surface ultra-finishing treatment, resulting in a nearly perfect spherical shape and mirror-like smoothness. 

IV. Specialized Lubrication Solution - Addressing the Dual Challenges of High Temperature and Hydrocarbons

The lubrication of petrochemical bearings is a critical factor determining their lifespan. Ordinary lubricating grease fails rapidly in high-temperature and hydrocarbon environments. NMT offers a graded lubrication solution: 

▷ High-temperature condition: PLATINUM NMT high-temperature non-melting lubricating grease 

It is made by using base oil with a specific molecular structure and special thickening technology. It does not melt or drip at high temperatures. It has excellent shear stability, does not caramelize or leak over a long period of use, and has strong impact resistance. It has excellent anti-corrosion and rust prevention capabilities, and maintains stable torque even after repeated disassembly. It is recommended for use in various bearings lubrication under high-temperature and high-load conditions. 

▷ Carbon-hydrocarbon contact condition: Perfluoropolyether (PFPE) base lubricating grease 

For bearings that have long-term contact with hydrocarbons such as crude oil, gasoline, diesel, and aromatics, NMT recommends using special lubricating grease with perfluoropolyether (PFPE) base oil. The C-F bonds in the PFPE molecules have extremely high bond energy and extremely low polarity, exhibiting nearly perfect chemical inertness towards almost all hydrocarbons - they do not dissolve, do not swell, do not saponify, do not emulsify, and are not diluted. The operating temperature range covers -30°C to +260°C, and the vapor pressure is extremely low, with minimal volatility. 

▷ Environment with hydrogen sulfide (H₂S): Special anti-H₂S lubricating grease 

For high-sulfur oil and gas fields, acidic natural gas pipelines, and H₂S-containing refining and chemical plants, NMT can be equipped with special anti-hydrogen sulfide lubricating grease. This grease forms a high-strength and long-lasting lubrication protection film on the bearing raceway surface, effectively preventing H₂S molecules from coming into contact with the metal substrate, and inhibiting hydrogen penetration and sulfidation reactions. The operating temperature range covers -30°C to +180°C, and it has excellent resistance to H₂S/CO₂ corrosion, high-pressure resistance, anti-wear properties, and long-term stability. 

V. Three sealing configurations - Protect against corrosive media and dust levels respectively

▷ Standard dust-proof type (ZZ): Double-sided metal dust cover 

It is an auxiliary equipment suitable for media with high cleanliness requirements and mainly for protecting against particulate matter. The metal shielding effectively blocks dust and coarse particles, has good heat resistance, and does not affect high-speed operation. 

▷ Corrosion-resistant medium type (2RS): Double-sided contact rubber seal (FKM) 

Suitable for parts that come into contact with chemical media and corrosive fluids such as pumps and valves. FKM (fluororubber) seals have high temperature resistance and chemical resistance. The lip fits closely against the inner ring, effectively preventing corrosive media from entering the bearing interior and preventing lubricant leakage. 

▷ Low-resistance long-life type (VV): Double-sided non-contact rubber seal 

Suitable for equipment that is sensitive to operating resistance, such as compressors and high-speed pumps. The non-contact seal does not generate additional frictional resistance, has low heat generation and low energy consumption. At the same time, it has basic dust-proof and splash-proof functions and is suitable for 24-hour continuous operation. 

VI. Spot reserves + Non-standard customization - Emergency repair guarantee for refining and petrochemical plants

Common petrochemical bearing models (6200, 6300, 6800 series and thin-walled series) are always in stock - covering over 80% of the general bearing requirements of refining and petrochemical plants. Emergency repairs are dispatched on the same day, minimizing unplanned downtime to the greatest extent. 

Customizable items: Special inner and outer diameters/widths, customized clearances (C2/C3/C4/C5), high-temperature FKM seals, all stainless steel materials (SUS304/316/440C), ceramic ball mixed bearings, special pre-filled lubricants (PFPE/anti-H₂S specific grease). 

Quickly produce prototypes based on old bearings or drawings – Small batch urgent orders can be delivered promptly. The prices are comparable to those of imported brands (SKF, FAG, NSK, NTN), significantly reducing the procurement costs. 

VII. Factory Simulation Test - Ensuring Stable Operation at Petrochemical Sites

All products undergo four specialized tests before leaving the factory: 

Chemical medium immersion corrosion test - Simulating sulfide, acid-base solution environments to verify the corrosion resistance of bearing materials and surface treatments. 

High-temperature continuous rotation life test - Operates continuously in a constant temperature box ranging from 150 to 200 degrees Celsius, to verify the stability of the lubricating grease and its dimensional stability. 

Hydrocarbon immersion test - Simulates the environment of crude oil, aromatics, etc., to verify the sealing effectiveness and the anti-dissolution performance of the grease. 

Dimension accuracy and rotational torque detection - Perform individual inspections of inner diameter, outer diameter, width, radial clearance and starting torque to ensure consistency. 

All non-conforming products must be scrapped. The bearings of the same batch are highly consistent in terms of size, clearance and torque, which facilitates the unified management and planned replacement of spare parts for large-scale refining and chemical enterprises. 

VIII. Life Cycle Cost Optimization - Reducing Unplanned Shutdowns and Safety Accidents

For a single hour of unplanned shutdown of a petrochemical plant, not only is production capacity lost, but it may also lead to safety accidents and environmental pollution. Frequent replacement of bearings not only increases maintenance costs but also reduces the reliability of the equipment. 

The hidden costs of low-priced ordinary bearings: 

Chemical corrosion requires replacement within 6 to 12 months. Frequent shutdowns affect the production schedule. 

When the grease is dissolved by hydrocarbons, the bearing undergoes dry grinding and seizing, which may damage the pump shaft and the volute. The maintenance cost will increase significantly. 

At high temperatures, the lubricating grease undergoes carbonization and coking, making it difficult to clean and prolonging the maintenance cycle. 

Under H₂S conditions, ordinary bearings will fail within 3 to 6 months, posing safety risks. 

The NMT special bearing for petrochemical applications can ensure a stable service life of 24 to 36 months on refining pumps, compressors and reaction vessels: 

The frequency of replacements has decreased by over 60% - the number of unplanned annual shutdowns has significantly reduced, ensuring the continuity of production. 

Long-lasting anti-corrosion surface treatment for protection – Resists sulfides, chloride ions, and acid-base erosion, maintaining bearing accuracy over time. 

Special lubricating grease resists carbon-hydrocarbon solubility - The lubricating film remains firmly on the friction surface, eliminating the risks of dry grinding and shaft seizing. 

H₂S Environment-Specific Solution - Effectively prevents sulfide stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement, ensuring the safety of equipment and personnel. 

The lifespan of the supporting components (pump shaft, volute, seals) has been extended – the overall overhaul cycle of the machine has been prolonged, and the comprehensive holding cost has been significantly reduced. 

For large-scale refining and chemical enterprises, oil and gas field development companies, and chemical industrial parks, the overall holding cost of NMT bearings is much lower than the repeated replacement cost of cheap bearings - what is saved is not the difference in bearing prices, but the operational certainty of long-term safe operation of the equipment.