Nanostructured Bainitic Bearing Steel

Bearing is the most important component for nearly all mechanical equipment. Nanostructured bainitic steel, which is a new bearing steel, not only possesses necessary hardness and higher toughness, but exhibits excellent wear resistance and rolling contact fatigue performance, making it suitable for bearing application. In recent years, the research on nanostructured bainitic bearing steel has gained great progress and obtained attentions from bearing industry. To make a clear knowledge on nanostructured bainitic bearing steel, and reveal the further research direction on this filed, this paper reviews the development of nanostructured bainitic bearing steel, including the design of chemical composition, the heat treatment process, the feature of microstructure, the properties involving conventional mechanical properties, wear resistance and rolling contact fatigue performance, the effect of retained austenite, and the distribution of residual stress.