Comparative analysis of high performance bearing steels

doi:10.13251/j.issn.0254-6051.2021.06.003

Abstract

Abstract: Several kinds of high performance bearing steels were compared and analyzed. The results show that the strengths of carburized bearing steels are lower than that of through-hardened bearing steels, but the ductility and toughness are higher. Only the hardness of CSS-42L and M62 steels reaches 68 HRC among the current steel grades, which means that it has greater dynamic load-bearing capacity. High chromium Cr-Mo-V(Co) bearing steels have better hot hardness than other steels, and hot hardness of CSS-42L and M62 steels at 500 ℃ exceed 58 HRC. The hardness profiles of P675, Ferrium C61 and M50NiL are better than CSS-42L. Although CSS-42L steel has a high surface hardness, there is “concave area” in the hardness profile of the carburized layer, which limits its use under high load conditions. Corrosion resistance is the most important index affecting bearing life. The corrosion resistances of Cronidur 30 and Pyrowear 675 are better than that of CSS-42L and M50NiL. In addition to CSS-42L steel, the volume percent of retained austenite in bearing steels used above 350 ℃ is less than 10%. There are too many retained austenite in CSS-42L steel, which will affect the dimensional stability due to the transformation of austenite under the action of temperature and load when used at high temperature, so CSS-42L steel is limited applicating in aerospace field. Now only M62 and ASP2060 steels can be used as bearing above 500 ℃. Carburizing/nitriding can generate residual compressive stress on the steel surface, which is beneficial to improve the fatigue life. The subsurface compression stresses of P675 and M50NiL steels are greater than that of CSS-42L steel. Although the fatigue life of the CSS-42L steel tested by the ball-on-rod tester is approximately twice that of the Pyrowear 675 steel, the fatigue life of the Pyrowear 675 steel is higher than that of the CSS-42L steel when the lubrication is insufficient in the high-load accelerated test of the bearings.

Key words: bearing steel, hot hardness, corrosion resistance, fatigue life, retained austenite, residual compressive stress

CLC Number:

TG142.7

Li Xiong, Lin Faju, Du Simin, Wu Chengchuan. Comparative analysis of high performance bearing steels[J]. Heat Treatment of Metals, 2021, 46(6): 14-20.

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