Characterization of machined surface quality and near-surface microstructure of a high speed thrust angular contact ball bearing. (30th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Di; Zhang, Xiao-Chen; Li, Yi-Feng; Wang, Jianqiu; Han, En-Hou
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials science & technology. Volume 86(2021)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2021-09-30
• Subjects: Rolling bearing -- GCr15 -- Race-way -- Rolling ball -- Machined surface quality -- Surface nano-crystalline layer; Metals -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials science; Metals; Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2020.12.074
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1005-0302

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: There exist heavy machining marks, scratches and slag-hole on the surface of either race-way or rolling ball. Machining affected zone, i.e. a nano-crystalline layer was found in the outermost layer around the surface of race-way. The nano-crystalline layer is made of an equi-axial crystalline layer outside and a columnar crystalline layer inside. The tempered martensite in the common microstructure has a lamellar structure of twinned martensite and carbide of Fe7 C3 . Abstract: Bearings are one of the most important components in modern industry. Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) initiating from surface and subsurface is the major failure mode. In this paper, a typical high speed thrust angular contact ball bearing was selected, and the machined surface quality and near-surface microstructure of the race-way and rolling ball were systematically characterized by using of a probe surface profiler, white light interferometer, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with focused ion beam (FIB). Two kinds of precursor, probably resulting in pitting or spalling during the following rolling contact, were detected. One is the defects on the surface of either the race-way or the rolling ball, such as heavy machining marks, scratches and slag-hole. The other is nano-crystalline layer due to machining, in the outermost layer around the surface of race-way. The results may well lay foundation for our further research on RCF with the real part of such typical rolling bearings.