Effect of Heat Treatment on Surface Microstructure and Properties of Nano Bainitic Carburized Bearing Steel

doi:10.3901/JME.2021.04.063

Abstract

Abstract: At present, the evolution of the structure and properties of high carbon components on the surface of carburized nano-bainitic bearing steel is not clear. A kind of high carbon steel is designed to simulate the high carbon surface layer of G23Cr2Ni2Si1Mo nano-bainitic carburized bearing steel. The evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties with increasing austempering time at 200 ℃ are studied by using SEM and TEM characterization, hardness and impact tests. Results shows that the total time required for the isothermal transformation of bainite at 200 ℃ is 48 h. With increasing holding time from 0 h to 48 h, the content of martensite is gradually decreased, and the content of bainitic ferrite is gradually increased. The content of retained austenitic is increased firstly and then decreased gradually, with a peak value of 38.5% being obtained at 12 h. The average plate thickness of bainitic ferrites in 48 h specimen is 48 nm. Moreover, with increasing the holding time at 200 ℃, the hardness of steel is decreased firstly and then increased, with a minimum value of 58.1 HRC being obtained at 12 h specimen. However, the impact toughness of steel is gradually increased, with a maximum value of 96.0 J/cm² being obtained at 48 h specimen. The compressive strength is decreased gradually and the fracture strain is increased gradually. The studied results clearly show the evolution of microstructure and the related mechanical properties of the surface layer of nano-bainitic carburized bearing steel, providing a theoretical support for the process optimization of this kind of bearing steel.

Key words: bearing steel, nano-bainite, microstructure, mechanical property, heat treatment

CLC Number:

TG142

LI Wei, QIN Yuman, LI Yanguo, ZHANG Ming, YANG Zhinan, ZHANG Fucheng, YOU Leilei, LONG Xiaoyan. Effect of Heat Treatment on Surface Microstructure and Properties of Nano Bainitic Carburized Bearing Steel[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2021, 57(4): 63-72.

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