Abstract: A bearing component composed of a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloyed tool steel is produced by a process that includes: (i) performing a first preheating within a temperature range of 600-650° C., (ii) performing a second preheating within a temperature range of 850-900° C., (iii) austenitizing in vacuum at 1000-1180° C. for 20-40 min, (iv) gas quenching at a minimum of 4-5 bar overpressure, and (v) tempering by performing either a double temper at 520-560° C. for 1.5-2.5 hours in each temper, or a triple temper at 520-560° C. for 0.5-1.5 hours in each temper. The steel alloy may be composed (in mass percent) of 1.32-1.45 C, 0.32-0.50 Si, 0.26-0.48 Mn, 4.0-4.85 Cr, 3.35-3.55 Mo, 3.55-3.85 V, 0-0.13 W, 0-0.20 Ni, 0-0.15 Cu, 0-0.8 Co, 0-0.03 P, and 0-0.03 S, the balance being iron and unavoidable impurities. Mo may be replaced with W or vice versa in a replacement ratio Mo:W of 1:2.

Abstract: A bearing component composed of a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloyed tool steel is produced by a process that includes: (i) performing a first preheating within a temperature range of 600-650° C., (ii) performing a second preheating within a temperature range of 850-900° C., (iii) austenitizing in vacuum at 1000-1180° C. for 20-40 min, (iv) gas quenching at a minimum of 4-5 bar overpressure, and (v) tempering by performing either a double temper at 520-560° C. for 1.5-2.5 hours in each temper, or a triple temper at 520-560° C. for 0.5-1.5 hours in each temper. The steel alloy may be composed (in mass percent) of 1.32-1.45 C, 0.32-0.50 Si, 0.26-0.48 Mn, 4.0-4.85 Cr, 3.35-3.55 Mo, 3.55-3.85 V, 0-0.13 W, 0-0.20 Ni, 0-0.15 Cu, 0-0.8 Co, 0-0.03 P, and 0-0.03 S, the balance being iron and unavoidable impurities. Mo may be replaced with W or vice versa in a replacement ratio Mo:W of 1:2.

Abstract: A steel alloy for bearings contains: 0.6 to 0.9 wt. % carbon, 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % silicon, 0.1 to 1.5 wt. % manganese, 1.5 to 2.0 wt. % chromium, 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % molybdenum, 0 to 0.25 wt. % nickel, 0 to 0.3 wt. % copper, 0 to 0.2 wt. % vanadium, 0 to 0.2 wt. % cobalt, 0 to 0.2 wt. % aluminium, 0 to 0.1 wt. % niobium, 0 to 0.2 wt. % tantalum, 0 to 0.05 wt. % phosphorous, 0 to 0.03 wt. % sulphur, 0 to 0.075 wt. % tin, 0 to 0.075 wt. % antimony, 0 to 0.075 wt. % arsenic, 0 to 0.01 wt. % lead, up to 350 ppm nitrogen, up to 100 ppm oxygen, up to 50 ppm calcium, up to 50 ppm boron, up to 50 ppm titanium, the balance being iron, together with any other unavoidable impurities. Furthermore, the steel alloy contains (i) molybdenum and silicon in a weight ratio of 0.4<Mo/Si<6.0 and (ii) molybdenum and chromium in a weight ratio of 0.1<Mo/Cr<0.4.

Abstract: A near-eutectoid bearing steel having from 0.7 to 0.9 wt. % carbon, from 0.1 to 0.35 wt. % silicon, from 0.7 to 1.2 wt. % manganese, from 1.0 to 2.0 wt. % chromium, from 0.1 to 0.35 wt. % molybdenum, from 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % nickel, from 0.4 to 1.2 wt. % copper, from 0 to 0.15 wt. % vanadium, from 0 to 0.15 wt. % niobium, from 0 to 0.15 wt. % tantalum, from 0 to 0.2 wt. % cobalt, from 0 to 0.1 wt. % aluminum, from 0 to 0.05 wt. % phosphorous, from 0 to 0.03 wt. % sulphur, from 0 to 0.075 wt. % tin, from 0 to 0.075 wt. % antimony, from 0 to 0.04 wt. % arsenic, from 0 to 0.01 wt. % lead, up to 350 ppm nitrogen, up to 100 ppm oxygen, up to 50 ppm calcium, up to 50 ppm boron, up to 50 ppm titanium, the balance iron, together with any other unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: A near-eutectoid bearing steel having from 0.7 to 0.9 wt. % carbon, from 0.1 to 0.35 wt. % silicon, from 0.7 to 1.2 wt. % manganese, from 1.0 to 2.0 wt. % chromium, from 0.1 to 0.35 wt. % molybdenum, from 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % nickel, from 0.4 to 1.2 wt. % copper, from 0 to 0.15 wt. % vanadium, from 0 to 0.15 wt. % niobium, from 0 to 0.15 wt. % tantalum, from 0 to 0.2 wt. % cobalt, from 0 to 0.1 wt. % aluminum, from 0 to 0.05 wt. % phosphorous, from 0 to 0.03 wt. % sulphur, from 0 to 0.075 wt. % tin, from 0 to 0.075 wt. % antimony, from 0 to 0.04 wt. % arsenic, from 0 to 0.01 wt. % lead, up to 350 ppm nitrogen, up to 100 ppm oxygen, up to 50 ppm calcium, up to 50 ppm boron, up to 50 ppm titanium, the balance iron, together with any other unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: A steel alloy comprising from: (a) 0.6 to 0.9 wt. % carbon, (b) 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % silicon, (c) 0.1 to 1.5 wt. % manganese, (d) 1.5 to 2.0 wt. % chromium, (e) 0.2 to 0.6 wt. % molybdenum, and up to: (f) 0.25 wt. % nickel, (g) 0.3 wt. % copper, (h) 0.2 wt. % vanadium, (i) 0.2 wt. % cobalt, (j) 0.2 wt. % aluminum, (k) 0.1 wt. % niobium, (l) 0.2 wt. % tantalum, (m) 0.05 wt. % phosphorous, (n) 0.03 wt. % sulphur, (o) 0.075 wt. % tin, (p) 0.075 wt. % antimony, (q) 0.075 wt. % arsenic, (r) 0.01 wt. % lead, (s) 350 ppm nitrogen, (t) 100 ppm oxygen, (u) 50 ppm calcium, (v) 50 ppm boron, (w) 50 ppm titanium, the balance iron, including any other unavoidable impurities, wherein the alloy comprises molybdenum and silicon in a weight ratio of 0.4?Mo/Si?6.0 and comprises molybdenum and chromium in a weight ratio of 0.1?Mo/Cr?0.4.