Effects of Heat Treatment on Fatigue Properties of Double Vacuum Smelting High‐Carbon Chromium‐Bearing Steel

Abstract

Herein, the tensile and fatigue properties of double vacuum smelting GCr15‐bearing steel under different heat treatments are studied. With the increase in ultimate tensile strength, the fatigue strength of double vacuum smelting GCr15‐bearing steel first increases and then reduces, and the origin of fatigue failure changes from specimen surface to internal inclusion. For the specimen with fatigue cracks initiated from the surface, the fatigue strength would increase as the tensile strength enhances, while for the specimen with fatigue cracks initiated from the internal inclusion, the fatigue strength reduces with the increment in tensile strength. It should be an effective method to obtain both excellent fatigue strength and enough tensile strength by heat treatment in the temperature range below temper brittleness and reducing tensile strength. These findings may be helpful for the antifatigue design of GCr15‐bearing steel through heat treatment control in the future.