Is chrome-steel BB rust-resistant?

I don't remember the chemistry (physical or metallurgical) but I think chrome usually puts an oxide layer (chromium oxide) on the steel.. but ISTR it needs like 10% Cr to do it.. I think standard chrome steel has only a few % to add strength (as e.g. Cr-V steel) or to reduce required carbon or something (or was that Ni?). Or just nevermind... ;)

Tim

-- In the immortal words of Ned Flanders: "No foot longs!" Website @

Alex, I use a chrome steel ball bearing as a roller running on pipe in a greenhouse. That's a humid location if ever there was one. They rust, but stay shiny where they contact the pipe. However, the other bearing steels

50200? rust away in a VERY short time. We switched to chrome steel from 440 stainless because when you use a couple of hundred on every job it gets real expensive, unless you can plunk down the cash to buy say 10,000 bearings at one pop.

Gary H. Lucas

52100, the most common bearing steel, is considered a chrome steel, but the chromium content is not high enough to give any rust resistance. The price of 440C balls is not much higher than 52100 in small sizes; the price difference becomes significant with larger balls.

Ned Simmons

Those ceramic balls don't rust very easily. :-)

It's better than carbon steel but not corrosion resistant.

Nor brass, or bronze or monel, or nickel or wood or plastic or stone

Brian W

Materials have their virtues and defects - brittleness, cold flow, low yield, creep, granularity - they all have a place.

Brian W