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A silicon nitride ceramic bearing has good self-lubricating characteristics. It still has a good operational status under the condition of a lack of oil. However, the temperature distribution of a silicon nitride ceramic bearing during its operation is unclear. To clarify the thermal distribution of a full-ceramic ball silicon nitride ceramic bearing under self-lubricating conditions, the changing trend of the rolling friction temperature between the rolling elements and channels with different accuracies is analyzed using the friction testing machine. The bearing heat generation model based on the silicon nitride material coefficient is established, and the life test machine measures the temperature of the bearing to verify the accuracy of the simulation model. The results show that the friction temperature between the ceramic ball and channel decreases with the increase in ceramic ball level. With an increase in the ceramic ball pressure and temperature, the friction temperature rises. Under self-lubrication, when the bearing bears a heavy load, the influence of the rotating speed on temperature rise tends to decrease. Under the condition of high speed, with the increase in load, the change range of temperature rise shows an upward trend. The important relationship between the bearing’s heat and bearing’s load and speed is revealed. It provides some theoretical guidance for the thermal analysis of a silicon nitride ceramic ball bearing under the self-lubricating condition to improve the service life and reliability of full-ceramic ball bearings.

Compared with metal ball bearings, full ceramic ball bearings have more outstanding service performance under extreme working conditions. In order to reveal the lubrication mechanism and improve the operation performance and service life of full ceramic ball bearings, in this paper, the friction, vibration, and temperature rise characteristics of 6208 silicon nitride full ceramic deep groove ball bearing, under the condition of oil lubrication, are studied experimentally. Based on the test results, and through theoretical calculation and simulation analysis, the distribution of the lubricating oil film in bearing contact micro-zone under different working conditions was simulated. After that, the surface of contact micro-zone of full ceramic ball bearing was analyzed. It was found that there is an optimal oil supply for full ceramic ball bearing oil lubrication in service. Under the optimal oil supply lubrication, full film lubrication can be achieved, and the bearing exhibits the best characteristics of friction, vibration, and temperature rise. Compared with the load, the rotational speed of the bearing has a decisive influence on the optimal oil supply. When the rotational speed and load are constant, the minimum oil film thickness and oil film pressure in the contact area of the rolling body decrease with the increase of angle ψ from the minimum stress point of the rolling body. Under the action of high contact stress, thin oil film will be formed in the bearing outer ring raceway. In the field of full ceramic ball bearings, the research content of this paper is innovative. The research results of this paper have an important guiding significance for revealing the oil lubrication mechanism of full ceramic ball bearing and enriching its lubrication theory and methods.