No abstract

Due to the evolution of cleanness of bearing steels, the failures observed in service conditions move from deep initiated spalling on non-metallic inclusions to surface damage due to machining marks, lack or contaminated lubrication (dents). To take into account, by the most economic way, these request for more demanding applications, ASCOMETAL, SNR et VALTI have developed a new steel grade [1,2] based on the classical analysis of 100Cr6 (SAE 52100), with higher characteristics in terms of in-service properties (sustaining high loading, high temperature and contaminated lubrication) without deteriorated steelmaking or forming process by an optimised composition of the steel.