Characterization of machined surface quality and near-surface microstructure of a high speed thrust angular contact ball bearing

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2020.12.074

Abstract

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.

Key words: Rolling bearing, GCr15, Race-way, Rolling ball, Machined surface quality, Surface nano-crystalline layer

Di Wu, Xiao-Chen Zhang, Yi-Feng Li, Jianqiu Wang, En-Hou Han. Characterization of machined surface quality and near-surface microstructure of a high speed thrust angular contact ball bearing[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2021, 86: 219-226.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1. (a, b) Measuring profile and (c, d) corresponding surface roughness of (a, c) race-way and (b, d) rolling ball of 120B bearing.

Fig. 2. (a, d) Plane and (b, e) 3D surface profile of race-way, and (c, e) the roughness corresponding line in (a) and (d). Two typical regions with (a, b, c) heavy machining mark and (d, e, f) scratch were selected.

Fig. 3. (a, d) The 3D and (b) plane surface profile of rolling ball, and (c) the roughness corresponding line in (b). A region with (a, b, c) heavy machining marks and (d) a common region were selected.

Fig. 4. (a, c) OM and (b, d) SEM microstructure of section near surface of race-way.

Fig. 5. (a) OM and (b, c) SEM microstructure of section near surface of rolling ball, and (d) corresponding EDX result of point A in (c).

Fig. 6. EBSD microstructure of (a, b, c, d) race-way and (e) rolling ball: (a, e) IPF map, (b) phase map, (c) BC map, (d) KAM map.

Fig. 7. In-depth cross-section morphology of surface of race-way: (a) bright field image; (b) dark field image.

Fig. 8. TEM morphology of nano-crystalline layer of race-way: (a) triple-layer structure; (b) close-up view of amorphous layer and equi-axial nano-crysalline layer; (c) close-up view of columnar nano-crysalline layer; (d) SAED pattern of nano-crystalline layer; (e) SAED pattern of outer amorphous layer; (f) FFT pattern of HRTEM image of martensite; (g) FFT pattern of HRTEM image of columnar ferrite.

Fig. 9. TEM morphology of lamellar tempered martensite of race-way: (a) bright field image; (b) dark field image; (c) HRTEM image of twinned martensite and Fe7C3 lamellae; (d) SAED pattern of lamellar tempered martensite.

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