Bearing steel new skills and direction

**New Skills and Directions in Bearing Steel** Home > Bearing Knowledge > New Skills and Direction of Bearing Steel Bearing steel is primarily used to manufacture rolling elements and bearing rings. Bearings must have long service life, high precision, low heat generation, high speed, high rigidity, low noise, and high wear resistance. To meet these requirements, bearing steel must possess high hardness, uniform hardness, high elastic limit, high contact fatigue strength, good hardenability, and corrosion resistance. The chemical composition, non-metallic inclusions, carbide particle size, and distribution are strictly controlled to ensure the performance of the final product. In recent years, bearing steels have evolved toward higher quality, enhanced functionality, and greater variety. They are classified based on their characteristics and operating conditions: high carbon chromium bearing steel, carburized bearing steel, high-temperature bearing steel, stainless bearing steel, and special-purpose materials. To meet the demands of high temperature, high speed, heavy load, corrosion resistance, and radiation resistance, new types of bearing steels with special functions have been developed. Techniques such as vacuum melting, electroslag remelting, and electron beam melting have been introduced to reduce oxygen content and improve purity. Large-scale production uses electric arc furnaces combined with LF/VD or RH refining and continuous casting. This process ensures high-quality, energy-efficient production. Heat treatment has also advanced significantly. Modern continuous-controlled atmosphere annealing furnaces allow for stable spheroidization, reducing decarburization layers. The longest continuous heat treatment furnace can be over 150 meters long, ensuring consistent microstructure. Since the 1970s, the expansion of bearing applications and international trade has driven the globalization of bearing steel standards and the development of new technologies. Countries like Japan and Germany have established high-purity production lines, achieving oxygen levels below 10 ppm. Japanese companies like Shanyang Special Steel have reached oxygen levels as low as 5.4 ppm, comparable to vacuum-remelted steel. The contact fatigue life of bearings is highly sensitive to the homogeneity of the microstructure. Improving steel cleanliness by reducing impurities and inclusions enhances fatigue life. A fine and uniform distribution of carbides and non-metallic inclusions is essential for optimal performance. Controlled rolling and cooling have become key processes in producing high-quality bearing steel. Low-temperature controlled rolling (below 850°C) followed by air cooling and short-term annealing can produce ideal microstructures without the need for full spheroidizing annealing. Recent developments include 650°C processing, which allows superplastic deformation and reduces energy consumption. In heat treatment, improvements in spheroidizing annealing have led to shorter times and better microstructure control. Some manufacturers now use two-stage annealing at 720–730°C and 760°C, resulting in low hardness, uniform carbide distribution, and improved fatigue life. Continuous spheroidizing annealing is becoming a standard in modern production. New bearing steel grades are being developed to replace traditional ones. Fast-carburizing steels, high-frequency hardened steels, and high-temperature-resistant alloys like M50NiL and 440C are gaining popularity. These materials offer better performance, lower costs, and longer lifespans. China has also developed high-hardening bearing steels such as GCr15SiMo and GCr4, which offer improved impact resistance, toughness, and fatigue life. GCr4, for example, shows a 66%–104% increase in impact value and a 12% improvement in L10 life compared to GCr15. The future of bearing steel lies in higher cleanliness and functional diversification. Reducing oxygen content from 28 ppm to 5 ppm can extend bearing life by an order of magnitude. As environments become more demanding, there's a growing need for specialized steels that can withstand high temperatures, corrosion, and extreme loads. In summary, the development of bearing steel continues to focus on improving performance, reducing costs, and meeting the evolving needs of industries such as aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing. **Related Articles:** - Common Repair Methods for Bearings - How to Protect SKF Bearings - High-Tech Advancements in Bearing Steel - Oil Film Bearing Operation Principles This article was originally published on China Bearing Network. For more information, visit [http://www.chinabearing.net](http://www.chinabearing.net). Previous: Correct Application of Lubricating Grease Next: Disposal of Excessive Bearing Temperature

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