Key metallurgical technology for high-quality bearing steel production based on the nonaluminum deoxidation process

WANG Zhong-liang; BAO Yan-ping; GU Chao; XIAO Wei; LIU Yu; HUANG Yong-sheng

doi:10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2022.03.07.003

Volume 44 Issue 9

Sep. 2022

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Chinese Journal of Engineering > 2022 > 44(9): 1607-1619

WANG Zhong-liang, BAO Yan-ping, GU Chao, XIAO Wei, LIU Yu, HUANG Yong-sheng. Key metallurgical technology for high-quality bearing steel production based on the nonaluminum deoxidation process[J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2022, 44(9): 1607-1619. doi: 10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2022.03.07.003

Citation:

WANG Zhong-liang, BAO Yan-ping, GU Chao, XIAO Wei, LIU Yu, HUANG Yong-sheng. Key metallurgical technology for high-quality bearing steel production based on the nonaluminum deoxidation process[J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2022, 44(9): 1607-1619. doi: 10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2022.03.07.003

Citation:

WANG Zhong-liang, BAO Yan-ping, GU Chao, XIAO Wei, LIU Yu, HUANG Yong-sheng. Key metallurgical technology for high-quality bearing steel production based on the nonaluminum deoxidation process[J]. Chinese Journal of Engineering, 2022, 44(9): 1607-1619. doi: 10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2022.03.07.003

PDF( 2927 KB)

Key metallurgical technology for high-quality bearing steel production based on the nonaluminum deoxidation process

doi: 10.13374/j.issn2095-9389.2022.03.07.003

1.
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
2.
The Third Steel Plant, Zenith Steel Group Co., Ltd., Changzhou 213011, China

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail: baoyp@ustb.edu.cn
Received Date: 2022-03-07
Available Online: 2022-04-12
Publish Date: 2022-09-01

Abstract

Abstract

Bearing steel is subjected to complex alternating stress conditions for a long time which requires excellent service properties such as high hardness, high wear resistance, high elastic limit, and high contact fatigue strength. Therefore, during bearing steel production, it is necessary to strictly control the process and improve the purity of steel to ensure high precision, long service life, and high reliability of bearings. China has made considerable progress in the production technology of high-quality bearing steel, and some enterprises can produce world-class bearing steel. However, the stability of bearing steel still requires improvement. Currently, the aluminum deoxidation process is mainly used to produce bearing steel at home and abroad. Through aluminum deoxidation and the production of high-alkalinity slag, the oxygen content in liquid steel can be rapidly reduced. The total oxygen mass fraction in high-quality bearing steel can be controlled below 5×10^?6. However, fatigue failure caused by occasional Ds-type inclusions still occurs. Concurrently, other problems such as blockage of small billet continuous casting nozzle and difficulty in stable control of ultralow total oxygen and titanium content also occur. To circumvent the aforementioned problems, this study proposed a nonaluminum deoxidation process by adding silicon–manganese alloy for pre-deoxidation during converter tapping, adding silicon deoxidizer to the ladle furnace (LF) slag surface for diffusion deoxidation, and Ruhrstahl?Heraeus (RH) vacuum deep deoxidation to ensure that the total oxygen mass fraction of the molten steel was approximately 8×10^?6, to produce bearing steel. While ensuring the low aluminum and low titanium contents of liquid steel, low-alkalinity slag is used to change the type of inclusions and control the plasticity of inclusions to effectively solve the problem of liquid steel fluidity. The fatigue life of bearing steels by two kinds of processes was evaluated using the ultrasonic fatigue testing machine, the effects of different types of inclusions on fatigue performance were verified, the fatigue fracture mechanism of bearing steels by different processes was analyzed, and the critical size of inclusions causing fatigue cracks was predicted. The application of the aforementioned key technologies plays a guiding role in the large-scale production of nonaluminum deoxidized high-quality bearing steel. However, its quality still lags behind the most advanced production level of bearing steel worldwide, including the poor desulfurization effect caused by the use of low-basicity slag in the refining process, which needs to be further investigated.
- bearing steel,
- silicomanganese deoxidation,
- vacuum deep deoxidation,
- inclusion,
- ultrasonic fatigue

FullText(HTML)

References(37)

References

[1]	曹文全, 俞峰, 王存宇, 等. 高端裝備用軸承鋼冶金質量性能現狀及未來發展方向. 特殊鋼, 2021, 42(1):1 Cao W Q, Yu F, Wang C Y, et al. Status and future development of metallurgical quality and performance of bearing steels for high-end equipment. Special Steel, 2021, 42(1): 1
[2]	顧超, 王仲亮, 肖微, 等. 高疲勞壽命軸承鋼潔凈度現狀及研究進展. 工程科學學報, 2021, 43(3):299 Gu C, Wang Z L, Xiao W, et al. Research status and progress on cleanliness of high-fatigue-life bearing steels. Chin J Eng, 2021, 43(3): 299
[3]	Neishi Y, Makino T, Matsui N, et al. Influence of the inclusion shape on the rolling contact fatigue life of carburized steels. Metall Mater Trans A, 2013, 44(5): 2131 doi: 10.1007/s11661-012-1344-9
[4]	Moghaddam S M, Sadeghi F. A review of microstructural alterations around nonmetallic inclusions in bearing steel during rolling contact fatigue. Tribol Trans, 2016, 59(6): 1142 doi: 10.1080/10402004.2016.1141447
[5]	Hashimoto K, Fujimatsu T, Tsunekage N, et al. Effect of inclusion/matrix interface cavities on internal-fracture-type rolling contact fatigue life. Mater Des, 2011, 32(10): 4980 doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2011.06.056
[6]	宗男夫, 黃健, 劉軍, 等. 軸承鋼質量提升的關鍵冶金技術現狀及展望. 軸承, 2020(12):60 Zong N F, Huang J, Liu J, et al. Present situation and prospect of key metallurgical technologies for improving quality of bearing steel. Bearing, 2020(12): 60
[7]	Birat J P. Impact of steelmaking and casting technologies on processing and properties of steel. Ironmak Steelmak, 2001, 28(2): 152 doi: 10.1179/030192301677885
[8]	劉瀏. 高品質特殊鋼關鍵生產技術. 鋼鐵, 2018, 53(4):1 Liu L. Key production-technology for high-quality special steels. Iron Steel, 2018, 53(4): 1
[9]	Xiao W, Bao Y P, Gu C, et al. Ultrahigh cycle fatigue fracture mechanism of high-quality bearing steel obtained through different deoxidation methods. Int J Miner Metall Mater, 2021, 28(5): 804 doi: 10.1007/s12613-021-2253-y
[10]	李明, 王新成, 段加恒, 等. 軸承鋼中D類夾雜物的形成與控制. 工程科學學報, 2018, 40(S1): 31 Li M, Wang X C, Duan J H, et al. Formation and controlling of Type-D inclusions in bearing steel. Chin J Eng, 2018, 40(Suppl 1): 31
[11]	Gu C, Bao Y P, Gan P, et al. Effect of main inclusions on crack initiation in bearing steel in the very high cycle fatigue regime. Int J Miner Metall Mater, 2018, 25(6): 623 doi: 10.1007/s12613-018-1609-4
[12]	Kamiya T, Mizobe K, Kida K. Effect of observation position of SUJ2 bar specimens on inclusions distribution. IOP Conf Ser:Mater Sci Eng, 2018, 307: 012046 doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/307/1/012046
[13]	Gu C, Wang M, Bao Y P, et al. Quantitative analysis of inclusion engineering on the fatigue property improvement of bearing steel. Metals, 2019, 9(4): 476 doi: 10.3390/met9040476
[14]	繆新德, 于春梅, 石超民, 等. 軸承鋼中鈣鋁酸鹽夾雜物的形成及控制. 北京科技大學學報, 2007, 29(8):771 doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1001-053x.2007.08.005 Miao X D, Yu C M, Shi C M, et al. Formation and controlling of calcium-aluminates inclusions in bearing steel. J Univ Sci Technol Beijing, 2007, 29(8): 771 doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1001-053x.2007.08.005
[15]	肖微, 包燕平, 王敏, 等. 非鋁脫氧GCr15軸承鋼的夾雜物演變和控制. 鋼鐵, 2021, 56(1):37 Xiao W, Bao Y P, Wang M, et al. Inclusions evolution and control of non-aluminum deoxidized GCr15 bearing steel. Iron Steel, 2021, 56(1): 37
[16]	王立峰, 卓曉軍, 張炯明, 等. 冶金過程中簾線鋼夾雜物成分控制. 北京科技大學學報, 2003, 25(4):308 doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1001-053X.2003.04.005 Wang L F, Zhuo X J, Zhang J M, et al. Controlling inclusion composition in steelmaking process for tire cord steel. J Univ Sci Technol Beijing, 2003, 25(4): 308 doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1001-053X.2003.04.005
[17]	王新華. 鋼鐵冶金: 煉鋼學. 北京: 高等教育出版社, 2007 Wang X H. Iron and Steel Metallurgy: Steelmaking. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2007
[18]	徐掌印, 趙增武, 姜銀舉, 等. 含鈮鐵水直接冶煉含鈮微合金鋼的試驗. 鋼鐵, 2015, 50(4):13 Xu Z Y, Zhao Z W, Jiang Y J, et al. Experiment on Nb-bearing microalloyed steel made directly by Nb-bearing hot metal. Iron Steel, 2015, 50(4): 13
[19]	宋磊, 王敏, 李新, 等. 含錳鋼RH真空過程錳的遷移行為. 工程科學學報, 2020, 42(3):331 Song L, Wang M, Li X, et al. Manganese migration behavior in the RH vacuum process of manganese-containing steel. Chin J Eng, 2020, 42(3): 331
[20]	Ling H T, Zhang L F. A mathematical model for prediction of carbon concentration during RH refining process. Metall Mater Trans B, 2018, 49(6): 2963 doi: 10.1007/s11663-018-1403-8
[21]	Walker P F F. Improving the reliability of highly loaded rolling bearings: The effect of upstream processing on inclusions. Mater Sci Technol, 2014, 30(4): 385 doi: 10.1179/1743284713Y.0000000491
[22]	Spriestersbach D, Grad P, Kerscher E. Influence of different non-metallic inclusion types on the crack initiation in high-strength steels in the VHCF regime. Int J Fatigue, 2014, 64: 114 doi: 10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2014.03.003
[23]	謝文新, 包燕平, 王敏, 等. GCr15軸承鋼探傷缺陷與夾雜物的關系. 鋼鐵, 2015, 50(3):44 Xie W X, Bao Y P, Wang M, et al. Relationship between high frequency defect detection and inclusions in GCr15 bearing steel. Iron Steel, 2015, 50(3): 44
[24]	Park J H, Todoroki H. Control of MgO·Al₂O₃ spinel inclusions in stainless steels. ISIJ Int, 2010, 50(10): 1333 doi: 10.2355/isijinternational.50.1333
[25]	李林, 江野, 吳建永, 等. GCr15鋼澆注過程浸入式水口結瘤的原因及控制. 上海金屬, 2020, 42(6):35 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-7208.2020.06.009 Li L, Jiang Y, Wu J Y, et al. Formation and control of blockage at submerged nozzle of mold during GCr15 steel casting. Shanghai Met, 2020, 42(6): 35 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-7208.2020.06.009
[26]	Sasai K, Mizukami Y. Mechanism of alumina adhesion to continuous caster nozzle with reoxidation of molten steel. ISIJ Int, 2001, 41(11): 1331 doi: 10.2355/isijinternational.41.1331
[27]	華承健, 王敏, 張孟昀, 等. 浸入式水口內壁特征對邊界層流場結構和氧化鋁夾雜物運動行為的影響. 工程科學學報, 2021, 43(7):925 Hua C J, Wang M, Zhang M Y, et al. Effect of submerged entry nozzle wall surface morphologies on boundary layer structure and alumina inclusions transport. Chin J Eng, 2021, 43(7): 925
[28]	李新生, 李囡, 劉國強, 等. 高強軸承鋼GCr15的疲勞性能與壽命預測研究. 鍛壓裝備與制造技術, 2020, 55(4):141 Li X S, Li N, Liu G Q, et al. Study on fatigue performance and life prediction of high strength bearing steel GCr15. China Met Equip Manuf Technol, 2020, 55(4): 141
[29]	鄧海鵬, 何柏林, 于影霞, 等. 鋼鐵材料超高周疲勞的研究進展. 熱加工工藝, 2017, 46(4):6 Deng H P, He B L, Yu Y X, et al. Research progress of ultra-high cycle fatigue for ferrous materials. Hot Work Technol, 2017, 46(4): 6
[30]	Teng Z J, Wu H R, Huang Z Y, et al. Effect of mean stress in very high cycle fretting fatigue of a bearing steel. Int J Fatigue, 2021, 149: 106262 doi: 10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2021.106262
[31]	顧超. 高品質軸承鋼疲勞壽命預測模型及夾雜物影響規律研究[學位論文]. 北京: 北京科技大學, 2019 Gu C. Microstructure Fatigue Life Prediction Model Based on the Effect of Inclusions in Bearing Steel [Dissertation]. Beijing: University of Science and Technology Beijing, 2019
[32]	Deng Z Y, Zhu M Y. Evolution mechanism of non-metallic inclusions in Al-killed alloyed steel during secondary refining process. ISIJ Int, 2013, 53(3): 450 doi: 10.2355/isijinternational.53.450
[33]	馬躍, 潘濤, 江波, 等. S含量對高速車輪鋼斷裂韌性影響的研究. 金屬學報, 2011, 47(8):978 Ma Y, Pan T, Jiang B, et al. Study of the effect of sulfur contents on fracture toughness of railway wheel steels for high speed train. Acta Metall Sin, 2011, 47(8): 978
[34]	Gu C, Lian J H, Bao Y P, et al. Numerical study of the effect of inclusions on the residual stress distribution in high-strength martensitic steels during cooling. Appl Sci, 2019, 9(3): 455 doi: 10.3390/app9030455
[35]	Gu C, Liu W Q, Lian J H, et al. In-depth analysis of the fatigue mechanism induced by inclusions for high-strength bearing steels. Int J Miner Metall Mater, 2021, 28(5): 826 doi: 10.1007/s12613-020-2223-9
[36]	Murakami Y, Usuki H. 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, 1989, 11(5): 299
[37]	Unal O, Maleki E, Varol R. Comprehensive analysis of pulsed plasma nitriding preconditions on the fatigue behavior of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel. Int J Miner Metall Mater, 2021, 28(4): 657 doi: 10.1007/s12613-020-2097-x