Abstract: A method of treating bearing rolling elements or bearing rings after a hardening and temper heat treatment is disclosed. The method may include treating the bearing rolling elements in a tumbling treatment and then in a duplex hardening treatment. The method may include treating the bearing rings in a peening treatment and then in a duplex hardening treatment. The duplex hardening treatment may also include at least one sequential process segment consisting of subjecting the bearing rolling element & rings to a nitriding process to increase the surface hardness and compressive residual stress. The combined two-step process produces a deep surface/sub-surface residual stress greater than the depth of the maximum operating von-Mises shear stress along with an ultra-hard surface with high magnitude of compressive residual stress. In so doing, the bearing ring and rolling elements will have significantly enhanced rolling contact fatigue resistance and resistance to surface imperfections and debris.

Abstract: A method of treating bearing rolling elements or bearing rings after a hardening and temper heat treatment is disclosed. The method may include treating the bearing rolling elements in a tumbling treatment and then in a duplex hardening treatment. The method may include treating the bearing rings in a peening treatment and then in a duplex hardening treatment. The duplex hardening treatment may also include at least one sequential process segment consisting of subjecting the bearing rolling element & rings to a nitriding process to increase the surface hardness and compressive residual stress. The combined two-step process produces a deep surface/sub-surface residual stress greater than the depth of the maximum operating von-Mises shear stress along with an ultra-hard surface with high magnitude of compressive residual stress. In so doing, the bearing ring and rolling elements will have significantly enhanced rolling contact fatigue resistance and resistance to surface imperfections and debris.