Nowadays requirements for bearings in aircraft gas turbines are a high challenge for the material. Increased temperature, starved lubrication, high rotational speed with high hoop stresses, and tight shaft fit result in a complex loading condition.
To bear and resist these requirements the new caburizing bearing steel M50NiL was developed. Material and part properties of M50NiL are presented and compared with other hightemperature bearing steels. Hints are given according to the correct design in case depth and core toughness for aerospace bearings.
Particular attention is given to the role of residual stresses, especially in carburized bearing parts. Material properties and production parameters that affect the development of the desired compressive residual stresses at the near surface region are discussed.