Crankshafts28/08/03 25/3/04 11:13 am Page 1

Engine

Crankshafts

Corus’ steels for crankshafts meet

Steel
demands for high performance composition
cleanness
engines, lightweight design,
component reliability and low
through cost manufacturing.

In converting the linear motion of Performance

Forming Heat Treatment
the piston into rotational motion, hot forging, machining strength, stiffness, through hardening,
fatigue resistance, surface hardening
crankshafts operate under high wear resistance

loads and require high strength.

Elimination of the conventional
heat treatment process by
specifying Corus' air cooled steels Design Criteria
cost, weight, durability
offers manufacturers significant vibration, packaging

cost savings.

Performance Requirements Material Requirements

Crankshafts require the following characteristics: In addition to standard grades, Corus offers a range of steels
for forged crankshafts with some, or all, of the following
• High strength and stiffness to withstand the high loads
optional characteristics:
in modern engines, and to offer opportunities for
downsizing and weight reduction • Controlled hardenability steels ensure repeatability of
mechanical properties
• Resistance to fatigue in torsion and bending
• Optimised sulphur content balances the conflicting
• Low vibration
benefits of low sulphur for fatigue properties and high
• Resistance to wear in the bearing areas sulphur for improved machinability
• Controlled carbon content produces consistent
response to induction hardening
Manufacturing Requirements
• Controlled chromium and aluminium additions ensure
The manufacturing route for forged steel crankshafts is consistent surface hardening through nitriding
usually; hot forging, heat treatment, machining and surface • Clean steels provide good fatigue resistance from a
treatment. Controlled air cooling after forging is lower cost low overall inclusion content
than the traditional quench and temper and is now the
preferred route.

Efficient and cost effective processing requires:

• Consistent hardening response
• Good machinability in the hardened condition
• Predictable response to surface modification such as
induction hardening, nitriding or fillet rolling
Crankshafts28/08/03 25/3/04 11:13 am Page 2

Crankshafts

Material Selection
Forged steel crankshafts offer higher strength and stiffness than the cast iron alternative. Lower through cost, controlled air
cooled steels are now preferred to traditional quench and tempered grades.

Strength and durability requirements determine the appropriate steel type. VANARD 925®, developed by Corus, offers higher
strength than carbon manganese steels and improved machinability compared with alternative microalloyed steels such as
38MnVS5.

0.2% Proof Quench &

Designation UTS (MPa) Elongation (%) Air Cooled
Stress (MPa) Temper

Min Min Max Min

42CrMo4 680 850 1000 13 ✓

38MnVS5 (C38mod) 580 850 1000 12 ✓

VANARD 925 560 850 1000 12 ✓

38MnS6 (C38+N) 450 750 900 12 ✓

SAE1548 mod 450 700 900 17 ✓

Material Properties
Consistency of Hardenability Bending Fatigue Performance
Calculated from the chemical composition, the ideal Resonant dwell tests on crankshafts illustrate the superior
diameter (DI) is a recognised measure of hardenability. fatigue strength of steel grade 38MnVS5 compared with
Using fully computerised control of steel making and models SAE1548mod for the same bending section.
of hardenability response, Corus’ enhanced SAE1548mod
crankshaft steel achieves a narrow 10mm range of DI. This Data courtesy of Bifrangi, Sheffield
consistency is a significant improvement on the typical
50mm DI range of comparable standard steels and fully
satisfies customers needs for tight specifications to control
variations in hardening response.

Distribution of DI Fatigue Performance

30 4000
Steel grade: SAE1548mod
Bending Fatigue Strength (Nm)

25
3000
Fequency (%)

20

15 2000

10

1000
5

0
49 51 53 55 57 59 SAE1548mod 38MnVS5
DI (mm)

Additional Product Enhancements

Corus supplies steels with enhanced cleanness levels to customer or application specific requirements, for improved fatigue
performance in very highly loaded crankshafts. Corus offers improved machining steels with additions of tellurium for
sulphide modification.
Corus crankshaft steels are used by;
DAF, Daimler-Chrysler, Iveco, John Deere, MAN, Perkins, Saab, Scania, Volvo

Corus Engineering Steels PO Box 50 Aldwarke Lane Rotherham S60 1DW United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0) 1709 371234 Facsimile +44 (0) 1709 826233 www.corusengineeringsteels.com
Connecting Rods4/09/03 25/3/04 10:51 am Page 1

Engine

Connecting Rods
Corus’ steels for connecting rods
meet the demands of high
Steel
performance engines, lightweight composition
design, component reliability and
low through cost manufacturing.

The rod and cap are usually

produced as a single unit and Forming Performance Heat Treatment
subsequently separated. Fracture forging, machining, strength, fatigue strength, air cooling
fracture splitting stiffness
splitting of the rod and cap is the
latest major industry development
and gives significant cost saving
compared with conventional
machining. Design Criteria
cost, weight,
durability, packaging
Performance Requirements
Connecting rods operate under high loads requiring:
• High strength in both tension and compression
• Air cooled forging steels develop the strength
• High fatigue strength
requirements without subsequent heat treatment

Highly efficient engines demand the lowest possible • Controlled hardenability steels ensure repeatability of
component weight. More slender rod designs must have: mechanical properties

• Materials with good rigidity / high strength • Optimised sulphur content balances the conflicting
benefits of low sulphur for fatigue properties and high
• Weight consistency to facilitate engine balancing
sulphur for improved machinability
• Controlled microstructure improves fracture splitting
Manufacturing Requirements characteristics and minimises distortion

Forged steel offers the best combination of strength,

stiffness and cost. Cast iron rods are heavier and sintered
Material Developments
powder products are more expensive.
High proof and fatigue
strength steels are desirable.
In future the rod and cap will be fracture split to minimise
Corus has developed, and is
cost for most volume produced connecting rods.
validating, improved strength
steels which retain the
Lower through cost pressures demand:
fracture splitting
• Elimination of a heat treatment process Rod
characteristics and
• Improved machinability for high volume production machinability of
• Low distortion on fracture splitting existing grades.

Material Requirements
In addition to standard grades, Corus offers a range of
steels for connecting rods with some, or all, of the following
optional characteristics: Cap
Connecting Rods4/09/03 25/3/04 10:51 am Page 2

Connecting Rods
Material Selection
Controlled air cooled steels have largely replaced heat treated steels for connecting rod applications. Higher strength grades are
required for the heavier loads typically found in diesel engines and higher performance petrol driven cars. Weight reduction and
packaging constraints are also driving up the need for higher strength materials.

For conventionally machined rods, VANARD 925®, developed by Corus offers higher strength than the commonly used C45S6
grade and improved machinability compared with alternative microalloyed steels such as 38MnVS5.

FRACTIM® is a fracture splittable steel from Corus, with machining performance superior to the C70S6 grade initially developed
for this cost effective manufacturing route.

Designation 0.2% Proof UTS (MPa) Elongation (%) Air Cooled Fracture
Stress (MPa) Splittable

Min Min Max Min

C45S6 370 630 780 17 ✓

VANARD 925 560 850 1000 12 ✓

38MnVS5 580 850 1000 12 ✓

C70S6 560 850 1010 10 ✓ ✓

FRACTIM 580 850 1000 12 ✓ ✓

Material Development 750 1000 1150 10 ✓ ✓

Material Properties Machinability

Fatigue Strength The charts below illustrate the machinability benefits in
drilling and tapping operations achievable by the use of
The S-N chart below compares data from fatigue tests on FRACTIM compared to C70S6.
the Corus branded and industry standard steel grades. The
fatigue limit is indicated by the horizontal part of the curve. Drilling
300
Materials with higher fatigue limits such as FRACTIM and
Number of holes drilled

VANARD 925 can be used for connecting rods subjected to 250

higher loads. 200

150
S-N Chart
500 100

50
Stress (MPa)

450 0
Min Max Average
FRACTIM C70S6

400
Tapping
500
Number of holes tapped

400
350
105 106 107 108
Cycles to Failure 300

FRACTIM C45S6 200

VANARD 925 C70S6
100

0
Min Max Average
FRACTIM C70S6
Corus connecting rod steels are used by:
Caterpillar, Fiat, Ford, Iveco, John Deere, Opel, Perkins, PSA, Rover

Corus Engineering Steels PO Box 50 Aldwarke Lane Rotherham S60 1DW United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0) 1709 371234 Facsimile +44 (0) 1709 826233 www.corusengineeringsteels.com
CV Joints4/09/03 25/3/04 10:54 am Page 1

Drive Line & Transmission

Constant Velocity Joints and Driveshafts

Corus’ steels for drive line systems

consistently withstand heavy loads Steel
in delivering power to the steered composition, cleanness,
hardenability
wheels of modern vehicles.

CV joints and driveshafts are made

and finished to high standards for
reliable and efficient operation. Forming Performance Heat Treatment
hot forging, cold forging, strength, induction hardening,
Corus offers steels specifically machining, fatigue resistance, case carburising
wear resistance,
tailored to optimise individual
component manufacture.

Performance Requirements
The torsional loading and rotational motion in the Design Criteria
cost, weight, durability,
system determine the main requirements for CV joints packaging, loading
and driveshafts:
• High strength with a tough core
• Hard wear resistant surface
• Resistance to failure by torsional and rolling
Material Requirements
contact fatigue Outer races and driveshafts are made from medium carbon
through hardening steels. Inner races and tripods are made
Manufacturing Requirements from low carbon carburising steels.
Steels with optimised performance and reduced through
The outer races are precision formed usually by
costs are required. In addition to the standard grades Corus
warm forging from bar, followed by machining and
offers enhanced steels with some, or all, of the following
induction hardening.
optional characteristics:
Inner races and tripods are cold forged, machined and • Controlled sulphur content balances the conflicting
carburise heat treated. requirements of low sulphur for formability and fatigue
properties, and high sulphur for improved machinability
Drive shafts are produced from peeled bar and the splines
• Controlled hardenability steels with tight compositional
are formed by cold rolling. The entire surface is then
control ensure repeatability of mechanical properties
induction hardened.
• Defect free bar prevents cracking during warm or
An efficient manufacturing process for each of these cold forging
components demands:
• Controlled carbon content produces consistent
• Sufficient ductility for the forming process response to induction hardening of outer races
• Good machinability and driveshafts

• Consistent and repeatable response to heat treatment

Future Developments
Tripod
Outboard Lean Manufacturing, throughout the supply chain, offers
Outer Race Driveshaft the most scope for further improved value CV joints and
Inboard Outer driveshafts. Existing steel enhancements fully satisfy
Race anticipated future performance requirements.
Outboard Inner
Race
CV Joints4/09/03 25/3/04 10:54 am Page 2

Constant Velocity Joints and Driveshafts

Material Selection
Steels for CV joints and driveshafts are highly developed products. Appropriate grades for the different applications,
and their typical chemical composition (wt %) are:

Designation C Mn S Cr Mo B Component

C50* 0.50 0.75 0.015 - - - Outer Races

C45 0.45 0.75 0.025 - - -

Driveshafts
38B3 0.38 0.95 0.030 - - 0.002

16MnCr5 0.16 1.15 0.030 1.00 - -

20MnCr5 0.20 1.25 0.030 1.15 Inner Races

- - and Tripods

18CrMo4 0.18 0.75 0.030 1.00 0.20 -

* C50 is used for both outer races and driveshafts. Lower sulphur levels for improved formability are normally specified for outer races.

Material Properties
Consistency of Induction Hardening Response Consistency of Hardenability
Calculated from the chemical composition, the ideal diameter Corus achieves tight control of hardenability from cast to
(DI) is a recognised measure of hardenability. Using fully cast. Results on over 50 casts of 16MnCr5 steel fall within
computerised control of steelmaking and models of a much narrower hardenability band than specified by the
hardenability response, Corus’ enhanced 38B3 driveshaft steel recognised standard BS EN 10084:1998
achieves a narrow 10mm range of DI, fully satisfying
customers needs for tight specifications to control variations
in mechanical properties. This consistency is a significant
improvement on comparable standard steels which typically
have a DI range >50mm.

Distribution of DI Hardenability Control

35 50
Steel grade: 38B3 Steel grade: 16MnCr5
30 45

25 40
Hardness (HRc)
Frequency (%)

20 35

15 30

10 25

5 20

0 15
38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 0 10 20 30 40 50
DI (mm) Position (mm)

Corus BS EN

Corus steels for CV joints and driveshafts are used by:

Fiat, Honda, Land Rover, Nissan, Opel, Rover, Toyota, VW

Corus Engineering Steels PO Box 50 Aldwarke Lane Rotherham S60 1DW United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0) 1709 371234 Facsimile +44 (0) 1709 826233 www.corusengineeringsteels.com
Diesel 12/08/03 25/3/04 10:57 am Page 1

Engine

Diesel Injectors
Nozzles and nozzle body holders

Corus’ steels for diesel injectors meet

demands for high performance engines,
Steel
lightweight design, component reliability composition
cleanness
and low through cost manufacturing.

Common rail and integral unit injector

systems accurately deliver fuel at
high pressure for efficient Forming Performance Heat Treatment
hot forged, machined, strength, fatigue resistance case hardened, through
combustion, better fuel economy gun drilled hardenened
and lower emissions. Corus’ high
strength steels for nozzles, body holders
and unit injectors are produced to
exceptional cleanness levels for maximum
Design Criteria
fatigue resistance. Injection pressures,
engine temperatures,
weight reduction, cost

Performance Requirements
Nozzles must have: Material Requirements
• High mechanical strength to tolerate the high
system pressures For nozzles, Corus has developed a low carbon case
hardenable steel fulfilling the essential requirements for:
• Resistance to the fatigue stresses imposed by the fuel
delivery cycle • Excellent machinability in the pre-heat treated,
annealed condition
• Durability at high combustion temperatures
• High strength and fatigue resistance after heat treatment
Nozzle body holders are also subjected to high fatigue • Strength at elevated temperatures
stresses from pulsating fuel pressures. Additionally,
weight and packaging constraints are demanding
Nozzle body holder and unit injector bodies have more
smaller components.
demanding machinability requirements. For these
Nozzle body holders and unit injector bodies therefore need: applications Corus provides:
• High mechanical strength to resist the ever increasing • Bars with exceptional straightness which are stress and
fuel pressures defect free to avoid hole drift during gun drilling
• Fatigue resistance, especially in regions of high stress • Controlled resulphurised or leaded steels to further
improve machinability

Manufacturing Requirements In addition, all components demand:

Nozzle production is a high volume operation which demands: • Clean steels for good fatigue resistance from a low
• Good machinability overall inclusion content

• Appropriate heat treatment response to give the Nozzle Body Holder

final properties

Nozzle body holders and unit injector bodies can be either

machined from bright bar, or hot forged then machined. A Nozzle
heat treatment process follows machining. Optimal
processing of these components requires:
• Good machinability with special reference to gun drilling
of small holes
• Minimum distortion on heat treatment
Diesel 12/08/03 25/3/04 10:57 am Page 2

Diesel Injectors - Nozzles and nozzle body holders

Material Selection & Development
Diesel injection engineering is developing rapidly in response to the increasing service demands. Corus works closely with
manufacturers to develop steels that meet the needs for higher operating pressures, temperatures and reliability.

Nozzles
The 2Ni2Cr steel developed by Corus for injector nozzles has been tailored to meet the combined requirements of machinability,
strength, fatigue and high temperature durability. This steel is in use in the latest common rail systems, operating at pressures of
up to 1800 bar and temperatures in excess of 200°C.

Nozzle Body Holders & Unit Injector Bodies

Medium carbon steels, sometimes resulphurised and / or leaded (e.g. C45Pb) are used for the less demanding applications
where machinability overrides fatigue considerations. Through hardening alloy steels (e.g. 42CrMo4) are needed for higher fuel
pressure systems where fatigue strength is more critical. On heat treatment these steels develop the required mechanical
strength and retain adequate machinability. Special clean steel practices are necessary to minimise inclusion content and further
improve fatigue properties.

The table below shows typical chemical compositions (wt %) for diesel injector steels.

Designation C Mn S Cr Mo Ni Pb Component

C45Pb 0.45 0.65 0.045 - - - 0.20

Nozzle
body holder
42CrMo4 0.42 0.90 0.040 1.10 0.30 - -

2Ni2Cr 0.175 0.50 0.035 2.00 - 2.00 - Nozzle

Material Properties
Consistency of Hardenability (Nozzle Bodies) Consistency of Steel Cleanness (Nozzles)
Calculated from the chemical composition, the ideal Very clean steels have well dispersed and relatively few
diameter (DI) is a recognised measure of hardenability. Using inclusions. Oxygen content is an appropriate measure of
fully computerised control of steelmaking and models of cleanness. Low oxygen levels are more difficult to achieve in
hardenability response, Corus' enhanced 42CrMo4 steel for low carbon steels. Through close control of steelmaking
nozzle bodies achieves a 10mm range of DI. This practice Corus' enhanced 2Ni2Cr nozzle steel consistently
consistency is a significant improvement on the typical achieves oxygen levels below 10ppm. These are well below
50mm DI range of comparable standard steels and fully industry standards of 12-15ppm and more comparable with
satisfies customers needs for tight specifications to control the much higher carbon 1%CCr bearing steels for which
variations in mechanical properties. fatigue resistance, and therefore cleanness, is paramount.

Distribution of DI Distribution of Oxygen Content

25 25
Steel grade: 42CrMo4 Steel grade: 2Ni2Cr

20 20
Frequency (%)

Frequency (%)

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0
114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
DI (mm) Oxygen Content (ppm)
Corus diesel injector system steels are used by:
Delphi, Denso.

Corus Engineering Steels PO Box 50 Aldwarke Lane Rotherham S60 1DW United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0) 1709 371234 Facsimile +44 (0) 1709 826233 www.corusengineeringsteels.com
gears02-10-03 25/3/04 10:59 am Page 1

Drive Line & Transmission

Gears

Corus’ steels withstand the high stresses

at the mating surfaces and in the core Steel
composition,
of gears transmitting rotational forces hardenability, cleanness
from the engine / crankshaft to the
road wheels.

Consistency of material response

during manufacture, particularly Forming Performance Surface Treatment
forging, machining bending fatigue, case carburising,
on final heat treatment, minimises surface fatigue, NVH shot peening
expensive rectification and reduces
gearbox noise and vibration.

Performance Requirements
Transmission gears require: Design Criteria
cost, loading, packaging,
• Hard wear resistant surfaces weight, durability
• Resistance to tooth root bending fatigue
• Resistance to surface fatigue which leads to pitting
• A tough core • Controlled hardenability steels ensure repeatability
• Dimensional accuracy for smooth meshing and reduced of mechanical properties and heat treatment
NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) distortion behaviour
• Transmission of higher loads without increasing
size and weight • Controlled low silicon steels improve the bending
fatigue life by reducing internal oxidation during
carburising
Manufacturing Requirements
Transmission gears have a complex manufacturing route • Optimised sulphur content balances the conflicting
usually involving forging, machining, heat treatment and benefits of low sulphur for improved bending
surface improvement treatment. fatigue properties and high sulphur for
improved machinability.

The continuous pressure on component manufacturers for

low through costs demands: • Inclusion modified IM steels improve machining
throughput rates with reduced tool wear

• Predictable distortion effect of heat treatment to

• Clean steels provide good fatigue resistance from a
eliminate or reduce hard machining operations
low overall inclusion content
• Reduced heat treatment times using higher
temperatures
• Improved machinability
Material Developments
High temperature
carburising steels offer
Material Requirements
significant cost reductions
The majority of transmission gears are case hardened by allowing carburising above
carburising to achieve a high surface hardness and a tough 1000°C for shorter times.
core. In addition to the standard grades, Corus has In conventional steel these
developed steel for transmission gears with all or some of conditions promote grain growth
the following enhancements: and a consequential deterioration in fatigue properties.
gears02-10-03 25/3/04 10:59 am Page 2

Gears

Material Selection
The most appropriate material for an individual application will give the optimum balance of properties and through cost. The
table below lists the nominal chemical composition of the most common automotive transmission gear steels. Hardenability,
toughness and material cost generally increase with increasing alloy content. High alloy grades are used for larger and high
performance components, where hardenability is more critical, but the trend for high volume production of smaller gears is to
select the lower alloyed steel such as the manganese chromium (MnCr) grades.

BS EN 10084 C Mn Cr Ni Mo

17Cr3 0.17 0.75 0.85 - -

16MnCr5 0.16 1.15 1.00 - -
20MnCr5 0.20 1.25 0.45 - -
18CrMo4 0.18 0.75 1.00 - 0.20
20MoCr4 0.20 0.85 0.45 - 0.45
20NiCrMo2-2 0.20 0.80 0.50 0.55 0.20
17NiCrMo6-4 0.17 0.75 0.95 1.35 0.20
14NiCrMo13-4 0.14 0.45 0.95 3.25 0.17

Value Engineering
There is considerable overlap in the hardenability properties of different alloyed steels made to standard commercial composition
ranges. Using fully computerised control of steel making and models of hardenability response Corus can value engineer leaner
alloyed steels to meet specific customer needs with consistent quality to ensure predictable and repeatable response to heat
treatment and downstream processing.

Material Properties
Lean Alloy Design Distortion Control
The chart below illustrates the hardenability response of a Close control of hardenability reduces component rejection
value engineered lean alloyed MnCr steel compared with the rates caused by inconsistent distortion after heat treatment.
standard 1%NiCrMo steel it replaced. The hardenability
band width is maintained with a marginal decrease in
hardenability for the leaner alloy.

Hardenability Band Comparison Effect of Hardness Consistency

50 4%
Part rejections due to distortion

Jominy end quench test data

45
Hardness (HRc)

40

35
2%
30

25

20
Corus Standard
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Capability steels
Position (mm) Hardness Range HRc (Max - Min)
1% NiCrMo
MnCr modified

Corus gear steels are used by :

BMW, Caterpillar, Eaton, Ford, GM, Honda, Renault, Rover, Saab, Scania, Volvo, ZF

Corus Engineering Steels PO Box 50 Aldwarke Lane Rotherham S60 1DW United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0) 1709 371234 Facsimile +44 (0) 1709 826233 www.corusengineeringsteels.com
rolling bearings28/08/03 31/3/04 10:06 am Page 1

Drive Line & Transmission

Rolling Element Bearings

Corus’ bearing steels reliably withstand

the high fluctuating loads in modern Steel
composition,
automotive systems, delivering smooth cleanness

rotational motion with minimum friction Surface

Forming
for the lifetime of the bearing. (Rolling Elements) Treatment
wire drawing, hot heat treating,
forging, machining grinding
Integral hub bearings combine the hub Performance
and a rolling element bearing in a single wear resistance,
fatigue resistance
cost efficient component. Irrespective
of bearing design and specific grade Forming Assembly
(Raceways) location, lubrication
Corus steels are produced to closely hot forging, machining,

controlled and very demanding

cleanness levels for excellent Design Criteria
cost, packaging,
fatigue resistance. weight, durability

Performance Requirements
Automotive bearings require:
Material Requirements
• Hard wear resistant surfaces
• Resistance to failure by rolling contact fatigue In addition to standard grades, Corus has developed
• High surface integrity to promote smooth running steels for bearing applications which utilise specialist
steelmaking practices to meet exacting durability demands.
These steels have some, or all, of the following optional
Manufacturing Requirements characteristics:

The manufacturing route for rolling elements and raceways • Clean steels provide good fatigue resistance from a
involves cold forging, hot forging, followed by machining, low overall oxygen and inclusion content
heat treatment and grinding. • Controlled hardenability steels ensure repeatability of
mechanical properties
The efficient processing of these components demands:
• Controlled carbon content produces consistent
• Consistent hardening response response to induction hardening
• Good formability
• Optimised sulphur content balances the conflicting
• Predictable and consistent mechanical properties
benefits of low sulphur for cold formability and high
sulphur for improved machinability
• Defect free as-rolled bar prevents cracking on forging

Outer Raceway • Air cooled forging steels for integral hubs develop the
strength requirements without subsequent heat treatment
thereby reducing through costs

Material Developments
Low oxygen, high fatigue resistant steels are continuously
being developed for higher loaded bearing applications.

Inner Raceway

Rolling Elements
rolling bearings28/08/03 31/3/04 10:06 am Page 2

Rolling Element Bearings

Material Selection
Through hardening 1% carbon chromium steel is the industry standard for bearings. Machinability during manufacture
is maximised by a spheroidise annealing process. The high hardness levels required in the finished product are achieved
by quenching and tempering.

Case carburised bearings exhibit equivalent surface hardness and wear resistance to those of through-hardened bearing steels
yet with a relatively soft and tough core.

Medium carbon steels are now used for integral hubs, which can be air-cooled after forging. The required surface hardness of
the integral bearing raceway is obtained by induction hardening.

Examples of popular steels, chemical compositions (wt %) and applications are:

Hardening
Designation C Si Mn S Cr Mo Ni Typical Application
Process

- Through
1%CCr 1.00 0.20 0.30 0.015 1.35 -
hardening

SAE1070 0.25 0.90 0.025 - - - Through

0.70 Rolling elements, raceway
hardening

18CrNiMo2 0.18 0.20 1.20 0.015 0.60 0.14 0.35 Case

hardening

20CrMo2 0.20 0.20 0.80 0.015 0.60 0.10 - Case

hardening

S53C 0.53 Air Integral hubs

0.25 0.85 0.010 - - -
cooling

100
Material Properties 30
B10 Rolling Contact Fatigue Life
Mean Product Oxygen
Mean Product Oxygen Level (ppm)

Improvements in steelmaking over the last 30 years have

(Million Revolution)

led to a reduction in the oxygen and inclusion content of 75

1%CCr steel and a corresponding increase in the fatigue life. 20

N.B The B10 fatigue life is a recognised measure of a 50

materials fatigue performance and is defined as the number
of cycles at which there is a 10% probability of failure by 10
fatigue for an appropriate standard load 25
B10

0 0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Years

Corus has full approvals from:

INA/FAG, Koyo, NSK, ORS, SKF, Timken

Corus Engineering Steels PO Box 50 Aldwarke Lane Rotherham S60 1DW United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0) 1709 371234 Facsimile +44 (0) 1709 826233 www.corusengineeringsteels.com