Abstract: A steel alloy for a bearing, the alloy having a composition comprising: (a) from 0.5 to 0.9 wt. % carbon, (b) from 1.2 to 1.8 wt. % silicon, (c) from 1.1 to 1.7 wt. % manganese, (d) from 0.7 to 1.3 wt. % chromium, (e) from 0.05 to 0.6 wt. % molybdenum, and optionally any of: (f1) from 0 to 0.25 wt. % nickel, (f2) from 0 to 0.02 wt. % vanadium, (f3) from 0 to 0.05 wt. % aluminium, (f4) from 0 to 0.3 wt. % copper, (f5) from 0 to 0.5 wt. % cobalt, (f6) from 0 to 0.1 wt. % niobium, (f7) from 0 to 0.1 wt. % tantalum, (f7) from 0 to 150 ppm nitrogen, (f8) from 0 to 50 ppm calcium, and (f9) the balance iron, together with any unavoidable impurities, wherein the steel alloy has a microstructure comprising bainitic ferrite and retained austenite, and a hardness (Vickers) of at least 650 HV.

Abstract: A steel alloy for a bearing, the alloy having a composition comprising: (a) from 0.5 to 0.9 wt. % carbon, (b) from 1.2 to 1.8 wt. % silicon, (c) from 1.1 to 1.7 wt. % manganese, (d) from 0.7 to 1.3 wt. % chromium, (e) from 0.05 to 0.6 wt. % molybdenum, and optionally any of: (fl) from 0 to 0.25 wt. % nickel, (f2) from 0 to 0.02 wt. % vanadium, (f3) from 0 to 0.05 wt. % aluminium, (f4) from 0 to 0.3 wt. % copper, (f5) from 0 to 0.5 wt. % cobalt, (f6) from 0 to 0.1 wt. % niobium, (f7) from 0 to 0.1 wt. % tantalum, (f7) from 0 to 150 ppm nitrogen, (f8) from 0 to 50 ppm calcium, and (f9) the balance iron, together with any unavoidable impurities, wherein the steel alloy has a microstructure comprising bainitic ferrite and retained austenite, and a hardness (Vickers) of at least 650 HV.