Effect of Niobium Additions on Austenite Grain Coarsening Behavior of GCr15 Bearing Steel

The effect of 0.018% niobium additions on austenite grain coarsening behavior of GCr15 bearing steel was studied. Results indicate that the coarsening temperatures of No.1 and the No.2 experimental steel were 950°C and 1100°C. The austenite grain coarsening temperature was increased by 150°C by the addition of 0.018% Nb in bearing steel. The grain growth equations of two experimental steels at different soaking temperatures from 850°C to 1250°C with the soaking time of 30 min are as follows: the equation of No.1 steel is D1=1.85×105·exp (-6.57×104/RT); the equations of No.2 steel below and above 1100°C is D2=5.08×102·exp (-2.49×104/RT) and D2=1.06×108·exp (-1.31×105/RT), respectively. The grain growth equations of two experimental steels at different soaking time from 15 to 120 min with the soaking temperature of 840°C are as follows: the equation of No.1 steel is D1=4.83×10-2·t0.72 while that of No.2 steel is D2=1.25·t0.18.