Bearings

Jet engines use silver-coated steel ball bearings to prevent failure at high speed and extreme temperatures.

Photo courtesy of: Rolls-Royce plc

Steel ball bearings electroplated with silver have greater fatigue strength and load carrying capacity than any other type. These bearings are used in continuous, heavy-duty applications such as in jet engines. Because steel has a poor coefficient of friction, placing a layer of silver between the steel ball bearing and the housing reduces friction between the two, increasing the performance and longevity of the engine. Despite high internal temperatures, silver-coated bearings provide superior performance and a critical margin of safety for engines. Even in the event of an oil pump failure, silver-plated bearings provide enough lubrication to allow a safe engine shut-down before more serious damage can occur.