Notably Accelerated Nano-Bainite Transformation via Increasing Undissolved Carbides Content on GCr15Si1Mo Bearing Steel

In this study, a high-carbon nano-bainitic GCr15Si1Mo bearing steel was investigated. Specifically, the effects of content and size of undissolved carbides on the microstructure and transformation kinetics of nano-bainite were analyzed. The results demonstrated that after prolonged austempering at low temperatures, the mixed microstructure composed of nano-bainite (NB), undissolved carbides (UC), and retained austenite (RA) was obtained in GCr15SiMo steel. When the experimental steel was austenitized at 900 °C, the undissolved carbides gradually dissolved until reaching a stable state with increasing holding time. Furthermore, at the same austempering temperature, despite different volume fractions of undissolved carbides in the substrate, the volume fractions of nano-bainite in the final microstructures remained essentially the same. Moreover, the higher the content of undissolved carbides in steel, the faster the transformation rate of nano-bainite and the shorter the total transformation time.