Abstract
High carbon chromium bearing steel has been mainly produced by electric arc furnace-small ingot casting process. However application of continuously cast steel has been gradually expanded. In order to improve the rolling contact fatigue life of bearing steel, it is essential to decrease oxygen, titanium and sulfur contents in the steel and improve center line segregation.
Taking these points into consideration, high carbon chromium bearing steel is produced through BOF-CC process. The contents of oxygen, titanium, phosphorus and sulfur are easily decreased by combining the hot metal pretreatment furnace-BOF-ladle refining process.
The center line segregation is improved by the combined electromagnetic stirring technique. As a result, cleanliness of the steel and rolling contact fatigue life are improved. Based on good result of ball fatigue test, it can be expected to apply continuously cast steel to bearing ball use.
