Effect of Sulfur Content on the Composition of Inclusions and MnS Precipitation Behavior in Bearing Steel

Abstract

MnS inclusions in bearing steel have long been considered to significantly affect the fatigue life of bearing steel. In this paper, the sizes of inclusions in bearing steel with different sulfur contents were analyzed and the precipitation behavior of MnS was calculated using thermodynamics. Furthermore, the positive role of MnS in bearing steel was discussed. Results showed that when the size of inclusions in bearing steel was increased, the proportion of MnS components in composite inclusions gradually decreased. When the sulfur content was increased, the shape of inclusions changed from a particle shape to a strip shape. With increasing MnS content, the inclusion ratio of Al₂O₃ was significantly reduced in the Al₂O₃–CaO–MgO–MnS quaternary inclusion system, particularly for MnS proportions greater than 20%. The content of sulfur in bearing steel significantly affects the precipitation temperature of MnS. When sulfur content increases from 0.001% to 0.007%, the precipitation temperature of MnS increases from 1493 K to 1633 K as the precipitation of MnS moves from the austenite solid phase to the liquid and solid phases, and the precipitation size of MnS inclusions significantly increases. The size of oxide inclusions should be controlled to improve MnS wrap oxide inclusions in steel. Based on these results, a composition control with high sulfur levels and low oxygen levels should be adopted to improve the fatigue performance of steel.