Evaluation of the Possibility to Obtain Nanostructured Bainite in High-Carbon and High-Silicon 9XC Bearing Steel

The main aim of this research is the evaluation of the possibility of obtaining a nanostructured bainite after isothermal heat treatment of 9XC (according to GOST standard) bearing steel. It was found that the annealing at low temperature (250 °C) allows to obtain the microstructure of nanobainite consisting of nanometric-scale bainitic ferrite laths and austenite with a dominant film-like morphology. In the case of higher isothermal treatment temperature (300 °C), a microstructure was slightly coarser and the proportion of austenite with blocky morphology increased. The identification of a highly refined microstructure was performed using TEM and SAED methods. Besides, isothermal annealing temperature significantly affects hardness. The hardness difference between annealing at 250 °C (630.0 ± 4.4 HV1) and 300° C (517.3 ± 1.1 HV1) was over 100 HV. Such a substantial decrease in hardness was caused by the fraction and morphology of the occurred phases. Due to the high silicon content in the tested steel (1.54%), the carbide precipitation was delayed, but locally the cementite precipitates were confirmed. Based on the research, it was found that the commercial 9XC steel is appropriate for nanostructurization in the low ranges of bainitic transformation. Designing of further heat treatment should be focused on the lowest possible temperature of isothermal annealing (even below 250 °C).