The DT190 hub has ceramic bearings. What is ceramic?
A ceramic is an in-organic, non-metallic material, which can be used for domestic (clay pottery, sanitary ware) and industrial applications (bricks, tiles). When we speak of ‘ceramic bearings’ we refer to the balls that are inside of the bearing. These ceramic balls are typically made from (SiN4) ceramic silicon nitride and have greater hardness< and a smoother surface finish than steel balls. This means less wear and higher longevity. They deform less under high loads (-> smaller contact surface -> less friction)… …are almost not affected by heat (-> less friction)… …and are resistant to oxidation. Ceramic bearing balls also require less lubricant, resulting in increased bearing life. Small drawback is the higher cost.
