A bearing (20; 150; 152) comprises: an inner race (26); an outer race (28); and a plurality of rolling elements (30). The inner race comprises a nitrogen-alloyed steel (40). The outer race comprises a steel (42) with lower nitrogen content than said nitrogen-alloyed steel.

Two hybrid ball bearings and a compressor bearing arrangement with two hybrid ball bearings for a rotatable support of a rotor of the compressor versus a stator of the compressor. The two hybrid ball bearings are arranged face-to-face or back-to-back, are designed with an optimal axial clearance depending on the inner diameter of a ring-shaped inner raceway element one of the hybrid ball bearings respectively a pitch diameter of one of the two hybrid ball bearings for a long bearing life in connection with an optimal compressor operating performance.

A steel alloy providing from 0.05 to 0.25 wt. % carbon, from 10 to 14 wt. % chromium, from 1.5 to 4 wt. % molybdenum, from 0.3 to 1.2 wt. % vanadium, from 0.3 to 3 wt. % nickel, from 6 to 11 wt. % cobalt from 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % silicon, from 0.1 to 1 wt. % manganese, from 0.02 to 0.06 wt. % niobium, optionally one or more of the following elements from 0 to 2.5 wt. % copper from 0 to 0.1 wt. % aluminum, from 0 to 250 ppm nitrogen, from 0 to 30 ppm boron, and the balance iron, together with any unavoidable impurities, wherein the alloy has a Ni.sub.eq of greater than 11.5, the Ni.sub.eq being defined by the formula Ni.sub.eq=Ni+Co+(0.5Mn)+(30C), in wt. %.

A Hybrid ball bearing including an outer raceway, an inner raceway, and a plurality of balls arranged between the inner raceway and the outer raceway. The outer raceway and the inner raceway are made from bearing steel and have a first surface RMS roughness R.sub.q1. At least one ball of the plurality of balls is made from a ceramic material and has a second surface RMS roughness R.sub.q2. In a mint condition, the roughness of the raceways R.sub.q1 is 2 to 5 times higher than the roughness R.sub.q2 of the at least one ball, as well as a refrigerant compressor comprising such a hybrid ball bearing.

A bearing assembly including a chamber provided with a rolling bearing supporting a rotary shaft with respect to a fixed housing. The rolling bearing has a first ring and a second ring in relative rotation one each other, at least one row of rolling elements being arranged between the rings. The chamber having Ethanol in liquid and/or gaseous state. The rings are coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC) material.

A method of making bearings includes treating a metallic surface of a bearing raceway with a pulsed electrochemical processing nozzle to transform the amorphous oxide into a crystalline structure on the metallic surface electro-chemically and convert the metallic surface into a ceramic like hardness surface. Treating the metallic surface can include forming a gradient in material composition transitioning from a purely metallic material at a cross-sectional position within the bearing raceway to a purely crystalline structure material at the ceramic like hardness surface of the bearing raceway.

Two hybrid ball bearings and a compressor bearing arrangement with two hybrid ball bearings for a rotatable support of a rotor of the compressor versus a stator of the compressor. The two hybrid ball bearings are arranged face-to-face or back-to-back, are configured with an optimal axial clearance depending on the inner diameter of a ring-shaped inner raceway element one of the hybrid ball bearings respectively a pitch diameter of one of the two hybrid ball bearings for a long bearing life in connection with an optimal compressor operating performance.

Two hybrid ball bearings and a compressor bearing arrangement with two hybrid ball bearings for a rotatable support of a rotor of the compressor versus a stator of the compressor. The two hybrid ball bearings are arranged face-to-face or back-to-back, are configured with an optimal axial clearance depending on the inner diameter of a ring-shaped inner raceway element one of the hybrid ball bearings respectively a pitch diameter of one of the two hybrid ball bearings for a long bearing life in connection with an optimal compressor operating performance.

The bearings of aircraft angle of attack (AOA) vanes are susceptible to lightning strike damage, which causes fluting on the inner and outer races of the bearings and causes the bearings to generate friction, noise, and vibrations. To prevent the bearings from experiencing damage due to lightning strikes, the bearings, the shaft, and/or the mounting plate are configured to create an electric isolator to prevent the electric current from the lightning strike from passing through the bearings, thereby preventing the bearings from incurring lightning strike damage.

A bearing assembly, for example a thrust bearing assembly including first and second rings is provided with alternating high and low modulus rolling elements. The low modulus rolling elements have a greater diameter than the high modulus rolling elements so as to initially bear a relatively greater percentage of applied loads.