Abstract
A commercial lC-1.5Cr steel used widely for bearing manufacture has been heat-treated to give either martensitic or bainitic microstructures. The resistance of the steel to rolling contact fatigue damage, to fatigue crack growth under different environmental conditions, and in both of these microstructural states has been evaluated. Rolling contact fatigue failure was due to surface pit formation by spalling, caused either by subsurface- or surface-initiated fatigue cracks, or surface wear, dependent on microstructure and lubrication conditions. The presence of water in the lubricant increased the rolling contact fatigue damage and reduced the life in all of the microstructures, although in confirmation with other studies, there was some evidence that softer microstructures were more tolerant of this less ideal lubrication. Fatigue crack growth rates under Mode I loading conditions were also measured, both as a function of microstructural condition and lubricating oil environment, and the superior crack growth resistance of the bainitic and softer martensitic structure was confirmed. The effect of the lubricating environment on bearing steel performance is discussed in terms of corrosion fatigue and hydrogen embritflement.
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