Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ultrahigh cycle fatigue fracture mechanism of high-quality bearing steel obtained through different deoxidation methods

  • Published:
International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mechanism of oxide inclusions in fatigue crack initiation in the very-high cycle fatigue (VHCF) regime was clarified by subjecting bearing steels deoxidized by Al (Al-deoxidized steel) and Si (Si-deoxidized steel) to ultrasonic tension-compression fatigue tests (stress ratio, R = −1) and analyzing the characteristics of the detected inclusions. Results show that the main types of inclusions in Si- and Al-deoxidized steels are silicate and calcium aluminate, respectively. The content of calcium aluminate inclusions larger than 15 µm in Si-deoxidized steel is lower than that in Al-deoxidized steel, and the difference observed may be attributed to different inclusion generation processes during melting. Despite differences in their cleanliness and total oxygen contents, the Si- and Al-deoxidized steels show similar VHCF lives. The factors causing fatigue failure in these steels reveal distinct differences. Calcium aluminate inclusions are responsible for the cracks in Al-deoxidized steel. By comparison, most fatigue cracks in Si-deoxidized steel are triggered by the inhomogeneity of a steel matrix, which indicates that the damage mechanisms of the steel matrix can be a critical issue for this type of steel. A minor portion of the cracks in Si-deoxidized steel could be attributed to different types of inclusions. The mechanisms of fatigue fracture caused by calcium aluminate and silicate inclusions were further analyzed. Calcium aluminate inclusions first separate from the steel matrix and then trigger crack generation. Silicate inclusions and the steel matrix are closely combined in a fatigue process; thus, these inclusions have mild effects on the fatigue life of bearing steels. Si/Mn deoxidation is an effective method to produce high-quality bearing steel with a long fatigue life and good liquid steel fluidity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S.M. Wang, Q. Lü, H.L. Wang, and M. Liang, Behavior of non-metallic inclusions in casting slab of BOF bearing steel, J. Northeast. Univ., 27(2006), No. 2, p. 192.

    Google Scholar 

  2. L. Yang and G.G. Cheng, Characteristics of Al2O3, MnS, and TiN inclusions in the remelting process of bearing steel, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 24(2017), No. 8, p. 869.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Luo and J.G. Wang, Effects of nonmetallic inclusions on initiation and propagation of rolling contact fatigue cracks, Bearing, 2020, No. 6, p. 58.

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. Li, X.C. Wang, J.H. Duan, W. Yang, G. Cheng, L. Wang, L.W. Yang, and L.F. Zhang, Formation and controlling of type-D inclusions in bearing steel, Chin. J. Eng., 40(2018), Suppl. 1, p. 31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. W. Xiao, M. Wang, and Y.P. Bao, The research of low-oxygen control and oxygen behavior during RH process in silicondeoxidization bearing steel, Metals, 9(2019), No. 8, art. No. 812.

  6. C. Gu, M. Wang, Y.P. Bao, F.M. Wang, and J.H. Lian, Quantitative analysis of inclusion engineering on the fatigue property improvement of bearing steel, Metals, 9(2019), No. 4, art. No. 476.

  7. T. Kamiya, K. Mizobe, and K. Kida, Effect of observation position of SUJ2 bar specimens on inclusions distribution, IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng., 307(2018), art. No. 12046.

  8. C. Gu, Y.P. Bao, P. Gan, M. Wang, and J.S. He, Effect of main inclusions on crack initiation in bearing steel in the very high cycle fatigue regime, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 25(2018), No. 6, p. 623.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. S.M. Moghaddam and F. Sadeghi, A review of microstructural alterations around nonmetallic inclusions in bearing steel during rolling contact fatigue, Tribol. Trans., 59(2016), No. 6, p. 1142.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. K. Hashimoto, T. Fujimatsu, N. Tsunekage, K. Hiraoka, K. Kida, and E.C. Santos, Effect of inclusion/matrix interface cavities on internal-fracture-type rolling contact fatigue life, Mater. Des., 32(2011), No. 10, p. 4980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Y. Neishi, T. Makino, N. Matsui, H. Matsumoto, M. Higashida, and H. Ambai, Influence of the inclusion shape on the rolling contact fatigue life of carburized steels, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 44(2013), No. 5, p. 2131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. J.L. Guo, L.H. Zhao, Y.P. Bao, S. Gao, and M. Wang, Carbon and oxygen behavior in the RH degasser with carbon powder addition, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 26(2019), No. 6, p. 681.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. X.F. Cai, Y.P. Bao, L. Lin, and C. Gu, Effect of Al content on the evolution of non-metallic inclusions in Si-Mn deoxidized steel, Steel Res. Int., 87(2016), No. 9, p. 1168.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. S.H. Chen, M. Jiang, X.F. He, and X.H. Wang, Top slag refining for inclusion composition transform control in tire cord steel, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 19(2012), No. 6, p. 490.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Y. Li, C.Y. Chen, G.Q. Qin, Z.H. Jiang, M. Sun, and K. Chen, Influence of crucible material on inclusions in 95Cr saw-wire steel deoxidized by Si-Mn, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 8, p. 1083.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Shimamoto, E. Tamura, A. Owaki, and A. Matsugasako, Influence of modified oxide inclusions on initiation of rolling contact fatigue cracks in bearing steel, Kobe Steel Eng. Rep., 69(2019), No. 2, p. 90.

    Google Scholar 

  17. M. Shimamoto, T. Sugimura, S. Kimura, A. Owaki, M. Kaizuka, and Y. Shindo, Improvement of the rolling contact fatigue resistance in bearing steels by adjusting the composition of oxide inclusions, [in] J.M. Beswick, ed., Bearing Steel Technologies: 10th Volume, Advances in Steel Technologies for Rolling Bearings, STP1580, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2015, p. 173.

    Google Scholar 

  18. C. Gu, Y.P. Bao, P. Gan, J.H. Lian, and S. Münstermann, An experimental study on the impact of deoxidation methods on the fatigue properties of bearing steels, Steel Res. Int., 89(2018), No. 9, art. No. 1800129.

  19. H.Q. Xue, Investigation on Fatigue Behavior of Materials in Very High Cycle Regime under Vibratory Loading [Dissertation], Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 2006.

  20. T. Wu, J. Ni, and C. Bathias, An automatic ultrasonic fatigue testing system for studying low crack growth at room and high temperatures, [in] C. Amzallag, ed., Automation in Fatigue and Fracture: Testing and Analysis, STP1231, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 1994, p. 598.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. L.D. Roth, Ultrasonic fatigue testing, [in] H. Kuhn and D. Medlin, eds., Mechanical Testing and Evaluation, ASM Handbook, Vol. 8, ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2000, p. 1659.

    Google Scholar 

  22. W.P. Mason and H. Baerwald, Piezoelectric crystals and their applications to ultrasonics, Phys. Today, 4(1951), No. 5, p. 23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. S. Kimura, Y. Nabeshima, K. Nakajima, and S. Mizoguchi, Behavior of nonmetallic inclusions in front of the solid-liquid interface in low-carbon steels, Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 31(2000), No. 5, p. 1013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. S. Kimura, K. Nakajima, and S. Mizoguchi, Behavior of alumina-magnesia complex inclusions and magnesia inclusions on the surface of molten low-carbon steels, Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 32(2001), No. 1, p. 79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. H.B. Yin, H. Shibata, T. Emi, and M. Suzuki, Characteristics of agglomeration of various inclusion particles on molten steel surface, ISIJ Int., 37(1997), No. 10, p. 946.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. H.B. Yin, H. Shibata, T. Emi, and M. Suzuki, “In-situ” observation of collision, agglomeration and cluster formation of alumina inclusion particles on steel melts, ISIJ Int., 37(1997), No. 10, p. 936.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. C.J. Xuan, A.V. Karasev, P.G. Jönsson, and K. Nakajima, Attraction force estimations of Al2O3 particle agglomerations in the melt, Steel Res. Int., 88(2017), No. 2, art. No. 1600090.

  28. L.Z. Wang, Study on the Refinement and Homogenized Distribution of Inclusions in Al Killed Steel [Dissertation], University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 2017.

  29. K. Raiber, P. Hammerschmid, and D. Janke, Experimental studies on Al2O3 inclusion removal from steel melts using ceramic filters, ISIJ Int., 35(1995), No. 4, p. 380.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. K. Nogi and K. Ogino, Role of interfacial phenomena in deoxidation process of molten iron, Can. Metall. Q., 22(1983), No. 1, p. 19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. N. Shinozaki, N. Echida, K. Mukai, Y. Takahashi, and Y. Tanaka, Wettability of Al2O3-MgO, ZrO2-CaO, Al2O3-CaO sub-strates with molten iron, Tetsu-to-Hagané, 80(1994), No. 10, p. 748.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Y. Murakami and H. Usuki, Quantitative evaluation of effects of non-metallic inclusions on fatigue strength of high strength steels. II: Fatigue limit evaluation based on statistics for extreme values of inclusion size, Int. J. Fatigue, 11(1989), No. 5, p. 299.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. C. Gu, J.H. Lian, Y.P. Bao, Q.G. Xie, and S. Münstermann, Microstructure-based fatigue modelling with residual stresses: Prediction of the fatigue life for various inclusion sizes, Int. J. Fatigue, 129(2019), art. No. 105158.

  34. C. Gu, J.H. Lian, Y.P. Bao, and S. Münstermann, Microstructure-based fatigue modelling with residual stresses: Prediction of the microcrack initiation around inclusions, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 751(2019), p. 133.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. D. Brooksbank and K.W. Andrews, Tessellated stresses associated with some inclusions in steel, J. Iron Steel Inst., 207(1969), p. 474.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Y. Wang, The relationship between thermal expansion coefficient and chemical composition of glass, Bull. Chin. Ceram. Soc., 1(1982), No. 3, p. 35.

    Google Scholar 

  37. D. Brooksbank and K.W. Andrews, Thermal expansion of some inclusions found in steels and relation to tessellated stresses, J. Iron Steel Inst., 206(1969), p. 595.

    Google Scholar 

  38. K. Yang, B. Yang, X.Y. Xu, C. Hoover, M.M. Smedskjaer, and M. Bauchy, Prediction of the Young’s modulus of silicate glasses by topological constraint theory, J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 514(2019), p. 15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Z.Y. Deng and M.Y. Zhu, Evolution mechanism of non-metallic inclusions in Al-killed alloyed steel during secondary refining process, ISIJ Int., 53(2013), No. 3, p. 450.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Y. Ma, T. Pan, B. Jiang, Y.H. Cui, S. Hang, and Y. Peng, Study of the effect of sulfur contents on fracture toughness of railway wheel steels for high speed train, Acta Metall. Sin., 47(2011), No. 8, p. 978.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. C. Gu, J.H. Lian, Y.P. Bao, W. Xiao, and S. Münstermann, Numerical study of the effect of inclusions on the residual stress distribution in high-strength martensitic steels during cooling, Appl. Sci., 9(2019), No. 3, art. No. 455.

  42. C. Gu, W.Q. Liu, J.H. Lian, and Y.P. Bao, In-depth analysis of the fatigue mechanism induced by inclusions for high-strength bearing steels, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 28(2021), 5, p. 826.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51774031), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. FRF-TP-20-026A1), and the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy Foundation (No. 41620001).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Wei Xiao, Yan-ping Bao, Chao Gu & Min Wang

  2. ZENITH Steel Group Co. Ltd., Changzhou, 213000, China

    Yu Liu, Yong-sheng Huang & Guang-tao Sun

Authors
  1. Wei Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yan-ping Bao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chao Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Min Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yu Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yong-sheng Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Guang-tao Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan-ping Bao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xiao, W., Bao, Yp., Gu, C. et al. Ultrahigh cycle fatigue fracture mechanism of high-quality bearing steel obtained through different deoxidation methods. Int J Miner Metall Mater 28, 804–815 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-021-2253-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-021-2253-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation