New Steels and Methods for Induction Hardening of Bearing Rings and Rollers

The new method of through-surface hardening (TSH) of bearing rings and rollers was developed and used in Russia and former USSR. The principles of the method include the use of special steels of low or controlled hardenability, through-the-section induction or furnace heating and intense quenching of the parts by water stream in special devices. Due to the low hardenability of applied steels, the bearing rings and rollers have high-strength martensitic surface layer, combined with a core strengthened with a troostite and sorbite structure. High compressive residual stresses are formed in the martensitic surface layers. For a long time TSH has been successfully used for inner rings of bearings for railway car boxes, large rings and rollers of bearings for cement furnaces and rolling mills. Recently TSH was used for hollow rollers of railway bearings. For bearing rings made of SAE 52100 type high-carbon, chromium-alloyed steel a new method of low-deformation hardening was developed. The method is based on self-calibration of the rings during the quenching process and is intended for through hardening by induction heating and quenching by rapidly moved water stream.