Skip to content 
Table of Contents
Categories
-
Adapter Sleeves (9)
-
Ball Bearings (11)
-
Ball Screw Bearings (2)
-
Ceramic Bearings (27)
-
Pillow Block Bearings (4)
-
Plain Bearings (32)
-
Roller Bearings (12)
-
Slewing Bearings (43)
-
Sliding Block (3)
-
Stainless Steel Bearings (27)
-
Super Precision Bearings (6)
-
Thin Section Bearings (9)
-
Track Rollers (4)
-
Universal Joints (1)
Introduction
Bearing steel serves as the backbone of critical mechanical equipment. In this area, 52100 bearing steel is known for its high carbon and chromium content, which provides strong hardness, durability, and wear resistance, making it widely used in demanding applications such as automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. This article aims to provide an in-depth look at the advantages of 52100 bearing steel and explore its many advantages in improving performance and reliability in different industrial sectors.
What Is 52100 Bearing Steel?
In simple terms, the steel used for bearings is called bearing steel. Bearing steel is also known as high carbon manganese steel, with a carbon content of Wc of 1 per cent or more and a magnesium content of Wcr of 0.5 per cent to 1.65 per cent. The bearing steel is further divided into six types: high-carbon chromium bearing steel, chromium-free bearing steel, nitriding bearing steel, stainless steel bearing steel, medium-high temperature bearing steel and antimagnetic bearing steel.
52100 bearing steel, also known as high carbon chromium steel, is a specialized alloy renowned for its exceptional properties in bearing applications. It is primarily composed of iron, carbon, chromium, and small amounts of other alloying elements.52100 bearing steel Composition is as follows
| Elemental | Content (wt%) |
|---|---|
|
Iron (Fe) |
Balance |
|
Carbon (C) |
0.95% – 1.10% |
|
Chromium (Cr) |
1.30% – 1.60% |
|
Manganese (Mn) |
0.25% – 0.45% |
|
Silicon (Si) |
0.15% – 0.35% |
Other elements:
- Phosphorus (P) ≤ 0.025
- Sulfur (S) ≤ 0.025
- Copper (Cu): ≤ 0.25
- Nickel (Ni): ≤ 0.25
- Molybdenum (Mo): ≤ 0.10
Types Of Bearing Materials
Bearing material selection is critical to bearing performance and life. Common bearing materials include:
1. Metal materials
Steel:
- Carbon steel: Inexpensive, but less wear-resistant.
- Bearing steel: With high hardness, high wear resistance and good fatigue resistance, it is the first choice material for high-performance bearings. Common bearing steels include 52100, 440C, GCr15, etc.
Bearing steel material properties:
After quenching and tempering, bearing steel obtains extremely high hardness, thereby improving wear resistance and compressive strength;
Its wear resistance is better than other types of steel, and it can withstand high loads and impact loads; it can withstand repeated stress and strain and is not prone to fatigue fracture.
At the same time, bearing steel has good dimensional stability and is not prone to deformation even at high temperatures.
In addition, bearing steel also has the following properties:
- Good corrosion resistance
- High thermal conductivity
- Easy to heat treat
Copper alloy:
- Bronze: Offers good wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and thermal conductivity, suitable for medium load and high-speed applications.
- Brass: Good wear resistance, good corrosion resistance, lower price, but lower load capacity.
Aluminum alloy:
- Light weight, good corrosion resistance, suitable for light load and low-speed applications.
2. Non-metallic materials：
Polymer:
- Good self-lubrication, corrosion resistance, and low noise, suitable for small load applications that do not require lubrication.
- High hardness, good wear resistance, and high-temperature resistance, suitable for high load and high-temperature applications. Common ceramic materials include zirconium oxide (ZrO2), silicon nitride (Si3N4), etc.
Composite materials:
- It combines the advantages of metallic and non-metallic materials, such as high strength, high wear resistance, and good corrosion resistance.
1. Load carrying capacity
One of the main tasks of bearing steel bearings is to withstand anisotropic loads. The design of the inner and outer rings, rolling elements and cages is precisely calculated to ensure excellent load carrying capacity in different directions.
2. Speed characteristics
High-performance bearing steel bearings have excellent rotational speed characteristics and are capable of maintaining stable operation in high-speed rotating environments. Precision manufacturing and the use of high quality bearing steel help to reduce friction, which in turn reduces heat generation.
3. Wear resistance and life
Bearing steel bearings are typically made from high-quality bearing steel material that has been case-hardened to increase its wear resistance and life.
4. Low friction and energy efficiency
Modern bearing steel bearings pursue low-friction designs to improve energy efficiency. By using optimised geometries, surface lubrication and sealing technology, bearings can reduce friction losses and therefore energy consumption, especially at high loads and speeds.
5. Shock and vibration resistance
Excellent bearing steel bearings have excellent shock and vibration resistance characteristics and are able to operate stably under harsh operating conditions.
Application Areas
- Manufacturing: Used in machinery and equipment, tooling machines, automobiles and other key components in the manufacturing process.
- Automotive industry: used in the production of engines, drivelines, wheel bearings and other moving parts.
- Aerospace industry: used in aircraft engines, aircraft accessories, guide rails and various key components for spacecraft
- Power industry: used in generators, wind turbines, water turbines and other equipment
- Heavy machinery and construction: used in bearing systems for excavators, cranes, concrete mixers and other large equipment.
- Railway transport: widely used in the manufacture of wheel bearings and connecting parts for trains.
- Marine Engineering: used in the manufacture of offshore platforms, subsea equipment and marine engineering equipment.
Common Surface Hardening Techniques For Bearing Steel Materials
In the field of bearing steel materials, the optimisation of surface hardness is essential to enhance the durability and performance of bearings. Various surface hardening techniques play an important role in ensuring the long life and reliability of these critical components.
- Induction hardening: Induction hardening is a widely used method to enhance the surface hardness of bearing steel. This technique heats the steel by electromagnetic induction and then rapidly quenches it. The result is a hardened surface that provides excellent wear resistance and fatigue strength, which is critical for bearings operating under harsh conditions.
- Carburising treatment: Carburising is a time-honoured surface hardening technique involving the introduction of carbon to the surface of steel. By exposing the steel to a carbon-rich atmosphere at elevated temperatures, followed by rapid quenching, the outer layer of the steel becomes carbon-rich, significantly increasing its hardness and wear resistance.
- Nitriding: Nitriding is a specialised surface hardening process involving the diffusion of nitrogen into steel. It is usually carried out at a lower temperature than conventional heat treatment. Nitriding results in increased surface hardness, superior corrosion resistance and excellent fatigue properties of the bearing steel.
- Flame quenching: Flame quenching is a localised surface hardening method that uses an oxy-acetylene or oxy-propane flame to heat a specific area of the bearing steel, followed by rapid cooling.
- Laser surface hardening: Laser surface hardening is a precise and controlled method of heating the surface of bearing steel using a laser beam. This localised heating is followed immediately by rapid cooling resulting in surface hardening.
Manufacturing And Heat Treatment Of 52100 Bearing Steel
The manufacturing and heat treatment of 52100 bearing steel is a complex process that requires strict process control and quality inspection.
Manufacture：
The manufacturing of 52100 bearing steel usually uses electric arc furnace steelmaking, vacuum degassing and continuous casting processes. Electric arc furnace steelmaking can quickly melt and refine molten steel, vacuum degassing can remove residual gas from the molten steel, and the continuous casting process can produce steel billets with precise dimensions.
Heat treatment：
The heat treatment process of 52100 bearing steel includes quenching and tempering. Quenching can increase the hardness and strength of steel, and tempering can improve the toughness and ductility of steel.
- Quenching: Heating steel above the critical temperature and then rapidly cooling it to room temperature. Commonly used quenching media include water, oil, and air.
- Tempering: The quenched steel is heated to a temperature below the critical temperature, held warm for some time, and then cooled slowly to room temperature. The temperature and time of tempering have a great impact on the properties of steel.
Through carefully designed and strictly controlled manufacturing and heat treatment processes, 52100 bearing steel is able to achieve excellent mechanical properties and durability to meet the needs of various industrial applications.
The Difference Between Bearing Steel And Stainless Steel
Bearing steel and stainless steel are both high-alloy steels, but they have some differences in composition, performance, and application.
The following table summarizes the main similarities and differences between bearing steel and stainless steel:
| Aspect | Bearing Steel | Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
|
Main Composition |
Carbon, Chromium |
Chromium, Nickel |
|
Main Properties |
High hardness, excellent wear resistance, high load-carrying capacity |
Good corrosion resistance, high strength, good mechanical properties |
|
Corrosion Resistance |
Poor |
Good |
|
Applications |
Bearings, gears, shafts, automotive components |
Food processing equipment, chemical industry, marine applications, decorative purposes |
|
Hardness |
High |
Medium |
|
Wear resistance |
High |
Medium |
|
Cost |
Generally lower |
Typically higher |
Conclusion：Superiority of 52100 Bearing Steel
52100 bearing steel is a high-carbon chromium alloy steel that is widely used in the manufacture of high-performance bearings because of its excellent properties. It has the characteristics of high hardness, high wear resistance, good fatigue resistance, and dimensional stability. The Superiority of 52100 bearing steel are:
- It can withstand high loads and impact loads, has good fatigue resistance, and is not prone to fatigue fracture.
- It has good dimensional stability and is not prone to deformation even at high temperatures, thus ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the bearing.
- Good processability can be used for various processing techniques, such as turning, milling, grinding, etc.
- Good corrosion resistance can resist erosion by various corrosive media.
- High thermal conductivity can quickly transfer the heat generated by friction and reduce the operating temperature of the bearing.
- Easy to carry out heat treatment, such as quenching, tempering, etc., to obtain different properties and hardness.
References
1. Detailed analysis of 52100 “bearing steel” from ASTM
2. Some information about “bearing steel” from AST;
3. Additional information about 52100 ”bearing steel“ from Fushun Company
