Microstructure Control and Structure Analysis in the Semi-Solid State of Different Feedstock Materials for the Bearing Steel 100Cr6

The bearing steel 100Cr6 in the forged and hardened condition is of great importance in industrial use. Escaping the geometry restrictions of conventional forging, the application of semi-solid metalworking (SSM) offers significantly increased design freedom. Using conventionally available rolled feedstock material with carbide banding, however, results in a higher segregation tendency during thixoforging, and thus special attention was paid to the feedstock’s “quality”. To achieve a fine-grained, globular microstructure in the semi-solid state, castings with and without the addition of 100 ppm titanium were compared with the hot rolled material. With its inherent nitrogen Ti forms TiN particles, which reduce grain-growth in austenite. The results indicate that TiN precipitates strongly affect grain growth during solid state processing, but the grain size in the semi-solid state can only be influenced for short process times. Generally the cast feedstock materials possess smaller globulites in the semi-solid state compared to forgings, so that a reduction of the sponge effect and a minimization of the segregation in produced components are expected. Since the cast material already showed a fine-grained, globulitic microstructure, the use of TiN is not recommended because of the possible negative influence of TiN on the dynamic mechanical properties.