Bearing steel

Details Bearing steel Bearing steel

2000-03-09

2001-09-04

Yee, Deborah (Department: 1742)

Metal treatment

Stock

Ferrous

C148S908000, C384S912000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06284065

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved bearing steel, and more specifically, to a bearing steel that makes it possible to through harden thick-walled components such as large roller bearing rings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, the steel used in the manufacture of roller bearing components with the best possible hardenability is believed to be the steel according to DIN 100CrMo7 4, containing 0.92-1.05% C, 0.25-0.4% Si, 0.6-0.8% Mn, 1.65-1.95% Cr, and 0.4-0.5% Mo.
In the manufacture of thick-walled components, such as large roller bearing rings having a wall thickness of 200 mm and up, it is very difficult if not impossible to obtain through hardening of the component. Without proper through hardening, the core will be unstable resulting in large deformations of the component during the hardening and also a reduction of the strength of the component. These large deformations necessitate manufacture of the component in dimensions which allow grinding of the component into the desired measures and straightness. Grinding of one ring may take up to 2 weeks, which adds considerably to the costs.
Generally, in order to improve hardenability, carbide formers as Cr and Mo are added. However, because of the high carbon content of bearing steels, additional amounts of Cr and Mo can cause excessive formation of easily fusible carbides which segregate and are enriched in the core, leading to porosity. In order to be able to produce dimensionally stable, through hardenable thick-walled components, there is a long felt, yet unfulfilled need for an improved bearing steel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention eliminates the problems discussed above, and others, by providing an improved bearing steel suitable for producing through hardened, thick-walled components for roller bearings.
This is achieved with the improved bearing steel according to the invention containing, in weight-%:
C
1.00-1.10
Si
0.15 max
Mn
1.35-1.65
Cr
1.70-1.90
Ni
1.00-1.15
Mo
0.40-0.50
Cu
0.30 max.
Al
0.015-0.050
the balance being Fe and normal residual elements and contaminants.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With the bearing steel according to the invention the problems according to the prior art are eliminated, and the improvement of the hardenability which is obtained makes it possible to through harden components with wall thicknesses well above 200 mm.
According to the invention, the level of Cr and Mo are kept essentially the same as in the grade 100CrMo7 4, which is traditionally used for large cross sections. Ni is added to the conventional alloy in an amount between 1.00-1.15 weight-%. The Mn content is increased to 1.35-1.65 weight-%, while according to the prior art the Mn concentration is 0.35-0.45 weight-%. Ni and Mn do not form carbides and will, consequently, not enhance the risk for precipitation of detrimental primary carbides during solidification.
Further, the Si content has been lowered compared to 100CrMo7 4, down to no more than 0.15 weight-%. By lowering the Si content, the bainite transformation rate is increased. Si has a strong influence on the bainite transformation rate compared to Ni and Mn. A lower Si content will, to some extent, counteract the increased transformation time caused by the increased alloying content.
Comparative Test Results
In a comparative test, rings having a wall thickness of about 200 mm were manufactured from 100CrMo7 4 steel and from the steel according to the invention, respectively.
The respective rings were hardened resulting in a distortion of about 2 mm with the conventional steel, while the ring manufactured from the steel according to the invention exhibited a distortion in the order of 10 &mgr;m.
When testing the through hardening of the respective rings, the rings manufactured from 100CrMo7 4 had a hardness of 45 HRC in the middle of the cross section of the ring wall, while the rings made of the steel according to the invention exhibited a hardness of 57 HRC all the way through the wall.


REFERENCES:
patent: 406287710A (1994-10-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Bearing steel does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Bearing steel, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bearing steel will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2435947