Improvement of Rolling Contact Fatigue Life of Bearing Steels

Progress in the steel making process has improved the rolling contact fatigue life of bearing steels. Based on identical tests, conducted periodically over the past 20 years, improvements in the rolling contact fatigue life of through hardening bearing steels and various carburizing steels are described. Improvements in steel quality may alter the influence of various factors on rolling contact fatigue life, and because of this it is necessary for them to be re-examined. Based on recent test data, the influence of factors such as oxygen content, alloying elements, fibre orientation, steel making procedure and heat treatment factors such as microstructure and cooling speed during quenching on rolling contact fatigue life are described.