Effects of Primary Carbide Size and Type on the Sliding Wear and Rolling Contact Fatigue Properties of M50 Bearing Steel

doi:10.1007/s40195-023-01543-6

Abstract

Abstract:

The influences of primary carbide size and type on the sliding wear behavior and rolling contact fatigue (RCF) properties of M50 bearing steel were systematically investigated under oil lubrication condition. A major breakthrough was achieved in the influence of primary carbide on tribological behavior. The opposite effect brought by primary carbide size on the sliding wear resistance and RCF life of M50 bearing steel was determined. Wear resistance increased with an increase in the studied primary carbide size, whereas RCF life decreased significantly. Compared with the 0 R and R positions with a relatively small carbide size, the wear volume of the 1/2 R position with a large carbide size was the smallest. Compared with the 0 R and R positions, the L₁₀ life of the 1/2 R position decreased by 82.7% and 84.8%, respectively. On the basis of the statistical correlation between primary carbide size and the two tribological properties, a critical maximum carbide size of 5-10 μm was proposed to achieve optimal tribological performance. This research suggests that the equivalent diameter of the primary carbide should be controlled to be smaller than 10 μm, but further decreasing primary carbide size to less than 5 μm is unnecessary. The influence of primary carbide type in M50 bearing steel on sliding wear resistance was also discussed. Results indicate that the MC-type carbides with higher elastic modulus and microhardness exhibit better wear resistance than the M₂C-type carbides.

Key words: Carbide size, Carbide type, Sliding wear, Rolling contact fatigue, M50 bearing steel

Liqi Yang, Weihai Xue, Siyang Gao, Yanfei Cao, Hongwei Liu, Deli Duan, Dianzhong Li, Shu Li. Effects of Primary Carbide Size and Type on the Sliding Wear and Rolling Contact Fatigue Properties of M50 Bearing Steel[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2023, 36(8): 1336-1352.

Figures/Tables 20

Table 1 Chemical composition of M50 bearing steel (wt%)

C	Si	V	Cr	Mn	Mo	La	Ce	Fe
0.84	0.21	0.99	4.01	0.21	3.96	0.0017	0.0023	Bal.

Fig. 1 Diagrams of experimental setup and sample cutting: a schematic of UMT-2 reciprocating apparatus, b schematic of sample cutting

Fig. 2 Diagrams of the experimental setup and sample cutting: a schematic of the ball-on-rod test geometry, b schematic of specimen cutting, c position relationship between the sliding and rolling samples

Fig. 3 Microstructure a, XRD pattern b of the M50 bearing steel

Fig. 4 SEM micrograph (BSD mode) and elemental distribution maps of carbides

Fig. 5 Average friction coefficient a, wear volume b of different specimens

Fig. 6 SEM images of the wear track surface of different specimen: a-d 1#, 3#, 5#, and 8#; e-h corresponding enlarged images of the rectangle

Fig. 7 SEM images of the cross-section of different samples: a original cross-section image, b tested sample cross-section images

Fig. 8 3D morphology of a typical spalling on the surface of M50 bearing steel

Fig. 9 Scatter diagram a and Weibull curves b of the RCF life of M50 bearing steel

Table 2 Typical RCF life and Weibull slopes of the different positions

Position	L₁₀	L₅₀	L_Vs	b
0 R	1.5 × 10⁷	5.51 × 10⁷	7.10 × 10⁷	1.447
½ R	2.57 × 10⁶	2.22 × 10⁷	3.39 × 10⁷	0.872
R	1.69 × 10⁷	5.48 × 10⁷	6.89 × 10⁷	1.604

Fig. 10 SEM micrographs of the cross section of the RCF rod at the 1/2 R position

Fig. 11 Diagram of carbide statistics for different samples: a area fraction, b number percentage of primary carbides in different equivalent diameter ranges, c mean equivalent diameter of all carbides

Fig. 12 Correlation between wear volume and carbide statistics: a, b linear fitting, c correlation histogram

Fig. 13 Correlation between fatigue life (L10) and carbide statistics: a, b Linear fitting, c correlation histogram

Fig. 14 3D a, 2D b morphologies of the original surface

Fig. 15 Carbide morphologies of wear track surface: a SEM images, b, c 3D and 2D morphologies of the corresponding region, d, e profilometer of the two types of carbides in the corresponding regions

Fig. 16 Typical load-displacement depth curves of the M50 bearing steel matrix and primary carbides

Fig. 17 Diagram of carbide statistics for different types: a M2C-type, b MC-type, c area fraction

Fig. 18 Schematic of the carbides in the wear process: a MC-type, b M2C-type, c two types of carbides

References 46

[1]	T. Wollmann, S. Nitschke, T. Klauke, T. Behnisch, C. Ebert, R. Füßel, N. Modler, M. Gude, Tribol. Int. 165, 107280 (2022) DOI URL
[2]	L. Rosado, H.K. Trivedi, D.T. Gerardi, Wear 196, 133 (1996) DOI URL
[3]	X.F. Yu, Y.H. Wei, D.Y. Zheng, X.Y. Shen, Y. Su, Y.Z. Xia, Y.B. Liu, Tribol. Int. 165, 107285 (2022) DOI URL
[4]	J. Guan, L.Q. Wang, Y.Z. Mao, X.J. Shi, X.X. Ma, B. Hu, Tribol. Int. 126, 218 (2018) DOI URL
[5]	H.K.D.H. Bhadeshia, Prog. Mater. Sci. 57, 268 (2012) DOI URL
[6]	F. Wang, D.S. Qian, L. Hua, X.H. Lu, Tribol. Int. 132, 253 (2019) DOI URL
[7]	H.W. Jiang, Y.R. Song, Y.C. Wu, D.B. Shan, Y.Y. Zong, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 798, 140196 (2020) DOI URL
[8]	C.W. Zhang, B. Peng, L.Q. Wang, X.X. Ma, L. Gu, Wear 420-421, 116 (2019) DOI URL
[9]	W.F. Liu, Y.F. Guo, Y.F. Cao, J.Q. Wang, Z.Y. Hou, M.Y. Sun, B. Xu, D.Z. Li, J. Alloy. Compd. 889, 161755 (2021) DOI URL
[10]	L.N. Zhou, G.Z. Tang, X.X. Ma, L.Q. Wang, X.H. Zhang, Mater. Charact. 146, 258 (2018) DOI URL
[11]	M.E. Curd, T.L. Burnett, J. Fellowes, J. Donoghue, P. Yan, P.J. Withers, Acta Mater. 174, 300 (2019) DOI
[12]	F. Wang, D.S. Qian, L. Hua, L.C. Xie, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 807, 140895 (2021) DOI URL
[13]	F. Wang, D.S. Qian, L. Hua, H.J. Mao, L.C. Xie, X.D. Song, Z.H. Dong, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 771, 138623 (2020) DOI URL
[14]	J. Guan, L.Q. Wang, Z.Q. Zhang, X.J. Shi, X.X. Ma, Tribol. Int. 119, 165 (2018) DOI URL
[15]	J.J. Rydel, I. Toda-Caraballo, G. Guetard, P.E.J. Rivera-Diaz-del-Castillo, Int. J.Fatigue 108, 68 (2018)
[16]	B. Loy, R. McCallum, Wear 24, 219 (1973) DOI URL
[17]	F. Wang, Y.C. Du, D.S. Qian, N.N. Cao, L. Hua, M. Wu, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 18, 3857 (2022) DOI URL
[18]	S. Liu, Z.J. Wang, Z.J. Shi, Y.F. Zhou, Q.X. Yang, J. Alloy. Compd. 713, 108 (2017) DOI URL
[19]	M.A. Hamidzadeh, M. Meratian, M.M. Zahrani, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 556, 758 (2012) DOI URL
[20]	F.X. Yin, L. Wang, Z.X. Xiao, J.H. Feng, L. Zhao, J. Rare Earths 38, 1030 (2020) DOI URL
[21]	T.L. Liu, L.J. Chen, H.Y. Bi, X. Che, Acta Metall. Sin. -Engl. Lett. 27, 452 (2014)
[22]	K. Zelič, J. Burja, P.J. McGuiness, M. Godec, Sci. Rep. 8, 9233 (2018) DOI
[23]	Y.K. Luan, N.N. Song, Y.L. Bai, X.H. Kang, D.Z. Li, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 210, 536 (2010) DOI URL
[24]	K. Wieczerzak, P. Bala, R. Dziurka, T. Tokarski, G. Cios, T. Koziel, L. Gondek, J. Alloy. Compd. 698, 673 (2017) DOI URL
[25]	W.F. Liu, Y.F. Cao, Y.F. Guo, M.Y. Sun, B. Xu, D.Z. Li, J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 38, 170 (2020) DOI URL
[26]	J.Z. Jiang, Y. Liu, C.M. Liu, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 19, 4076 (2022) DOI URL
[27]	L.J. Xu, W.L. Song, S.Q. Ma, Y.C. Zhou, K.M. Pan, S.Z. Wei, Tribol. Int. 154, 106719 (2021) DOI URL
[28]	J. Krell, A. Röttger, W. Theisen, Wear 444-445, 203138 (2020) DOI URL
[29]	L.J. Xu, S.Z. Wei, F.N. Xiao, H. Zhou, G.S. Zhang, J.W. Li, Wear 376, 968 (2017)
[30]	N.Y. Du, H.H. Liu, Y.F. Cao, P.X. Fu, C. Sun, H.W. Liu, D.Z. Li, Mater. Charact. 174, 111011 (2021) DOI URL
[31]	J.J. Cheng, M.C. Mao, X.P. Gan, Q. Lei, Z. Li, K.C. Zhou, Friction 9, 1061 (2021) DOI
[32]	W. Weibull, J. Appl. Mech. -Trans. ASME 18, 293 (1951) DOI URL
[33]	Z.X. Cao, Z.Y. Shi, F. Yu, K.I. Sugimoto, W.Q. Cao, Y.Q. Weng, Int. J. Fatigue 128, 105176 (2019) DOI URL
[34]	Z.T. Huang, W.H. Tian, W.X. Leng, Acta Metall. Sin. -Engl. Lett. 25, 401 (2012)
[35]	F. Steinweg, A. Mikitisin, M. Oezel, A. Schwedt, T. Janitzky, B. Hallstedt, C. Broeckmann, J. Mayer, Wear 504, 204394 (2022)
[36]	M. Oezel, A. Schwedt, T. Janitzky, R. Kelley, C. Bouchet-Marquis, L. Pullan, C. Broeckmann, J. Mayer, Wear 414, 352 (2018)
[37]	G. Guetard, I. Toda-Caraballo, P.E.J. Rivera-Díaz-del-Castillo, Int. J. Fatigue 91, 59 (2016) DOI URL
[38]	W.L. Silence, J. Lubr. Technol. 100, 428 (1978) DOI URL
[39]	M.T. Mao, H.J. Guo, F. Wang, X.L. Sun, ISIJ Int. 59, 848 (2019) DOI URL
[40]	G. Du, J. Li, Z.B. Wang, Metall. Mater. Trans. B-Proc. Metall. Mater. Proc. Sci. 48, 2873 (2017)
[41]	C. Rodenburg, W.M. Rainforth, Acta Mater. 55, 2443 (2007) DOI URL
[42]	L.Q. Yang, W.H. Xue, S.Y. Gao, H.W. Liu, Y.F. Cao, D.L. Duan, D.Z. Li, S. Li, Tribol. Int. 174, 107725 (2022) DOI URL
[43]	M.T. Mao, H.J. Guo, F. Wang, X.L. Sun, Int. J. Metall. Mater. 26, 839 (2019)
[44]	N.Y. Du, H.H. Liu, Y.F. Cao, P.X. Fu, C. Sun, H.W. Liu, D.Z. Li, Mater. Charact. 186, 111822 (2022) DOI URL
[45]	T. Lin, A.G. Evans, R.O. Ritchie, Metall. Mater. Trans. A Phys. Metall. Mater. Sci. 18, 641 (1987)
[46]	J.W. Geng, Y.G. Li, H.Y. Xiao, H.P. Li, H.H. Sun, D. Chen, M.L. Wang, H.W. Wang, Int. J. Fatigue 142, 105976 (2021) DOI URL