Will excessive contamination cause ball bearings to clog and bind?

If there are too many pollutants, it is likely to cause blockage and jamming of ball bearings.
When there are too many pollutants in the environment where ball bearings are located, various impurities such as dust, sand, metal debris, etc. will gradually enter the interior of the bearing. These pollutants will accumulate between the rolling elements (balls), raceway, and cage of the bearing. Over time, accumulated pollutants will alter the clearance and lubrication status inside the bearing.
On the one hand, pollutants can reduce the clearance of bearings. Under normal circumstances, the rolling of balls in the raceway requires a certain gap to ensure smooth movement. But when pollutants accumulate in it, they will occupy a part of the space, reducing the range of motion of the ball bearings. This causes the ball to experience greater resistance during rotation, making it prone to blockage.
On the other hand, pollutants can damage the lubrication of bearings. Good lubrication is crucial for the normal operation of ball bearings. However, pollutants can mix with lubricating oil, reducing its performance and even causing it to deteriorate. Without effective lubrication, the friction coefficient between the ball and the raceway will significantly increase, cause to an increase in frictional force. In this case, ball bearings will become increasingly difficult to operate and may eventually experience jamming.
In addition, some harder pollutant particles may also cause scratches and wear inside the bearing. These scratches and wear will further exacerbate the blockage and jamming problems of the bearings, while also reducing the service life of the bearings.