What is a ruby ball?
Ruby balls are spheres made from ruby, a well-known gemstone.
Rubies are a type of mineral called corundum and are characterised by their red hue. The degree of redness depends on the chromium content. Because of their vivid colour, they are often used as ornaments and artwork. Synthetic rubies are also often used for industrial applications.
Rubies have a Mohs hardness of 9, making them an extremely hard material. This makes it available as a wear-resistant component, particularly suitable for use in high-friction and high-pressure environments. It is also resistant to acids and alkalis and is corrosion resistant, making it an excellent performer in chemical processes.
Uses of ruby balls
Rubyball can be used in a variety of applications. The following are some examples.
1. Electronics
Ruby balls may be used as sensors and insulators. Due to their high heat resistance, they can be used in temperature and pressure sensors, especially in high temperature environments. This ensures accurate measurements even under extreme conditions.
In addition, ruby has excellent electrical insulation properties. They can therefore prevent short circuits and overheating when integrated into circuit boards and other electronic components.
2. Grinding wheels
Rubies are sometimes incorporated into the surface of grinding wheels. This improves the durability of the grinding wheel itself and allows for higher precision machining. The use of ruby particles improves the precision and efficiency of grinding.
3. Medical equipment
Rubies are often used in medical lasers. The type of laser known as a ruby laser uses ruby crystals as a medium to produce light. They are very useful in medical applications as they produce red light of approximately 694 nm, which is effectively absorbed by certain biological tissues.
4. watches
Ruby balls also play an important role in the manufacture of luxury watches. The use of bearing rubies inside the watch prevents wear and increases the watch’s durability. This enables the manufacture of watches that run precisely over a long period of time and require less frequent maintenance. Combined with the beauty of the ruby, this further enhances the value of a luxury watch.
Principle of the ruby ball
Ruby balls are made from rubies, a type of corundum. They are useful in a variety of industrial applications due to their extremely high hardness and wear resistance. They have the ability to withstand pressure and friction and serve as long-life components.
Due to their smooth surface and high hardness, ruby balls are also characterised by low friction and high resistance to wear. This makes them effective in grinding and cutting operations. Tools with ruby balls can be machined more effectively and achieve more precise finishes than other materials.
Ruby also has the property of absorbing or reflecting certain wavelengths of light. In particular, it is characterised by its strong absorption of red light at approximately 694 nm. They are therefore often used in optical instruments such as ruby lasers.
Thus, based on their physical properties and structure, ruby balls are an important material with high performance in various industrial fields.
How to select ruby balls
When selecting ruby balls, the following factors should be considered
1. Composition ratio
The main component of ruby balls is made up of aluminium oxides, which, due to the presence of chromium, give ruby balls their characteristic red colour. Their purity is very important when making a selection. High purity rubies have excellent mechanical properties, while lower purity rubies may have more inclusions, which may reduce their strength and wear resistance. Higher chromium doping ratios also give a more brilliant colour, but also affect the mechanical properties.
2. Size
The size of the ruby ball should be selected according to the application and required performance. Rubies with a small diameter are suitable for precision work, while larger diameters can handle more force. Larger sizes also increase weight, which can affect kinematic and frictional properties, so it is important to select the most suitable product.
3. Precision
In precision instruments and abrasive tools, the accuracy of ruby balls has a direct impact on performance. This is particularly important in bearing and precision grinding applications, as the tighter the tolerances in the manufacturing process, the higher the precision of the ruby balls. Rough surfaces can also increase friction and reduce performance.