AISI 52100, a high carbon chromium steel, has the longest fatigue life of eight bearing materials tested. Fatigue lives of the other materials ranged from 7 to 78 percent of the fatigue life of AISI 52100 at a temperature of 340 K (150 F)

Dietrich, M. W.

Parker, R. J.

Zaretsky, E. V.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

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	 I	 M-10	 I	 T-1	 I	 M-1	 M-2	 M-42 
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July 1972	 B72-10382 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Lewis Research Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Common Bearing Material Has 
Highest Fatigue Life at Moderate Temperature 
Relative Rolling-Element Fatigue Lives of Eight 
Through-Hardened Bearing Materials at 340K 
Eight bearing materials were tested to determine their 
relative rolling-element fatigue lives at moderate operating 
temperatures. Of these eight materials, AISI 52100, a 
high carbon chromium steel, had the longest fatigue life 
(see the figure). Fatigue lives of the other materials, AISI 
M-1, AISI M-2, AISI M-10, AISI M-42, AISI M-50, AISI 
T- 1, and Halmo (see Note 2), ranged from 7 to 78 percent 
of the fatigue life of AISI 52100 at the moderate temper-
ature of 340K (1500F). AISI 52100 is also the least 
expensive and most easily fabricated of these materials. 
The tests were made with 12.7-mm ( 1h-in.) diameter 
balls in a five-ball fatigue tester under very closely con-
trolled conditions. All variables known to affect rolling-
element fatigue life were kept constant. All test balls 
were of the same room-temperature hardness. Operating 
temperature was 340K (1500F). The lubricant was a 
super-refined naphtenic mineral oil.
For this operating temperature, AISI 52100 gives 
significantly better rolling-element fatigue life, provided 
that the hardness of AISI 52100 is approximately the 
same as the other materials at operating temperature. At 
temperatures below and above 340K up to 394K (2500F), 
relative hardness investigations indicate that AISI 52100 
retains its superior fatigue life. At about 450K (350001 
the hardness of AISI 52100 drops below the minimum of 
Rockwell C58 acceptable for rolling-element bearings. 
The other materials tested were precipitation-hardened 
high-chromium steels alloyed with tungsten, vanadium, 
molybdenum, and cobalt to retain their hardness at 
higher temperatures. Above about 394K, the hardness 
of these materials at the operating temperature signifi-
cantly exceeds that of AISI 52100 for balls of the same 
room temperature hardness. At moderate operating 
temperatures, however, AISI 52100 has the advantages 
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
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of longer fatigue life, lower cost, and easier fabricability. 
Only as bearing temperatures exceed 394K is the choice 
of a precipitation hardened, higher alloy steel advan-
tageous. 
Notes: 
1. This study should be of interest to bearing users who 
have been purchasing the more expensive higher alloy 
bearing materials because of assumed longer fatigue 
life. 
2. Halmo is a trademark of Crucible Steel Company, 
Division of Colt Industries, Inc. 
3. The following documentation may be obtained from: 
National Technical Information Service 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $3.00 
(or microfiche $0.95)
Reference: NASA TN-D-6179 (N71-17329), 
Rolling-Element Fatigue Lives of AISI T-1, 
AISI M-42, AISI 52100, and Halmo at 150°F. 
Reference: NASA TN-D-7033 (N71-17409), 
Rolling-Element Fatigue Lives of Four M-Series 
Steels and AISI 52100 at 150°F. 
4. Technical questions may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Lewis Research Center 
21000 Brookpark Road 
Cleveland, Ohio 44135 
Reference: B72-10382 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: Richard J. Parker, Erwin V. Zaretsky,

and Marshall W. Dietrich

Lewis Research Center

(LEW-1 1592)
4P 
B72-10382	 Category 04


Common bearing material has highest fatigue life at moderate temperature

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