The effect of chromium in high carbon bearing steels

Chromium is present in the 52100 bearing steel composition in the range 1.30 to 1.60 wt pct. Chromium has a significant influence on the spheroidization of cementite, finer carbides being formed due to chromium additions. The ferrite to austenite transformation temperatures are increased due to chromium. The microchemistry of the cementite in 52100 changes during heat treatment; the chromium content of secondary carbides is generally lower than that in the spheroidal (FeCr)₃C produced by soft annealing. The rate of carbide dissolution is controlled by the rate of chromium diffusion from the carbide-matrix interface. Also, the chromium content of the residual, spheroidal (FeCr)₃C increases during austenitization. The effect of substitution of chromium in bearing steel compositions is discussed. In view of the beneficial effect of chromium, only substitution by similar strong carbide forming elements should be considered for bearing steels.