A study of carbide dissolution in bearing steels using computational thermodynamics and kinetics

This paper provides a study of carbide dissolution during heating of bearing steel using computational thermodynamics and kinetics. 100Cr6 steel was used for the experimental work and calculations using the Thermo-Calc and DICTRA. Carbide dissolution was calculated at different full and intercritical austenization temperatures from 840 to 1200 °C. The calculations also give the distribution of the alloying elements at carbide and austenite phase boundaries. In experimental work, SEM was used to study microstructures. SEM micrographs were evaluated with line intercept technique and carbide size and quantity were determined. The experimental results were compared with calculations providing good correlation. (paper)