Effect of Environmental Gas on Surface Initiated Rolling Contact Fatigue

Abstract

This paper describes an exploratory study on the effects of temperature on the formation of oxide film and rolling contact fatigue life in hydrogen, argon and air. Rolling contact fatigue tests were conducted at 333 K and 363 K by using a three-ball-on-disk type apparatus. The rolling contact fatigue life in hydrogen was shorter than that in argon, and life in air was the longest. Relationship was found between fatigue life and hydrogen concentration in steel. Cross sections of the specimens show that iron oxide grew to larger grain size in the subsurface in hydrogen environment, which may have resulted in shorter fatigue life. It was also found that fatigue failure occurs on ball surface in hydrogen at 363 K.

Keywords

• hydrogen
• rolling contact fatigue
• permeation
• oxidation
• aisi 52100 steel