Method for the Production of a Bearing Arrangement, and Bearing Arrangement

A method for manufacturing a bearing assembly comprising at least one bearing element and at least one adjacent part, wherein the bearing element and the adjacent part abut each other at a contact surface during operationally-intended usage, the method comprising:

• a) disposing the bearing element and the adjacent part together in the operationally-intended position relative to each other and placing a reactive nano-crystalline layer between the bearing element and the adjacent part in the area of the contact surface, and
• b) initiating an exothermic reaction in the reactive nano-crystalline layer, so that the bearing element and the adjacent part are connected in a materially-bonded manner by at least partially heating the surface area of at least one of the bearing element and the adjacent part that is located in the area of the contact surface,
• wherein the placing of the reactive nano-crystalline layer between the bearing element and the adjacent part according to step a) takes place before the bearing element and the adjacent part are disposed in the operationally-intended relative position,
• the reactive nano-crystalline layer is applied to at least one of the bearing element and the adjacent part in the area of the contact surface, and
• before performing step a), at least one of the bearing element and the adjacent part is provided with a coating in the area of the contact surface, wherein the coating is solder or includes solder, or before performing step a), a layer of solder or a solder-containing material is placed in the area of the contact surface between the reactive nano-crystalline layer and at least one of the bearing element and the adjacent part.

A bearing assembly comprising:

• at least one bearing element,
• at least one adjacent part abutting against the bearing element at a contact surface,
• a layer of solder disposed on at least one of the bearing element and the adjacent part in at least a portion of the contact surface, and
• a reactive nano-crystalline layer applied as a coating to the layer of solder, wherein the reactive nano-crystalline layer is capable undergoing an exothermic reaction to melt the layer of solder to thereby form a soldered connection between the bearing element and the adjacent part.

A method for manufacturing a bearing assembly comprising a bearing element that fixedly abuts on an adjacent part at a contact surface, the method comprising:

• disposing a layer of solder-containing material on at least one of the bearing element and the adjacent part so as to cover at least a portion of the contact surface,
• disposing a layer of reactive nano-crystalline layer on the solder-containing material so as to cover at least a portion of the solder-containing material,
• positioning the bearing element adjacent to the adjacent part, and
• initiating an exothermic reaction in the reactive nano-crystalline layer to melt the solder-containing material, so that the bearing element becomes affixed to the adjacent part by a soldered connection over at least a portion of the contact surface.