Influence of Induction Heating Condition on Mechanical Properties of JIS-SUJ2 Steel

In our previous report (Tetsu-to-Hagané, 103(2017), 194), we investigated the microstructure of induction-heated SUJ2 steel. The austenitization was carried out at much higher temperatures (900-1000°C) than those typically being used at present in furnace heat treatment. It is worth noting that the fraction of retained austenite tended to be relatively high in induction-heated steels, which seem to be disadvantageous for the components of rolling bearing. In this study, the mechanical properties, in particular static and dynamic load capacities, were evaluated for the induction-heated steels containing 4 to 12 vol% undissolved carbide and austenitized at from 900 to 1000°C in order to establish the conditions for which the mechanical properties of SUJ2 steel are equal to or better than those of furnace heated SUJ2 steels.