Roller and ball bearing steel 100Cr6 - One century materials development

Anti-friction bearings belong to the most highly stressed components of mechanical engineering. Since then extremely high demands on anti-friction bearing steels have been claimed. A first evident description of required characteristics is given of Professor Richard Stribeck, who has recommended a specific composition for balls production in the year 1901, wherefrom the alloy 100Cr6 has been developed, as used today world wide. Since now no other steel grade has been thoroughly investigated with same effort. Due to this process developments for casting of steels of high purity, for their heat treatment and tools for the direct rolling-contact-analysis have been promoted. According to the developments in the field of the steel 100Cr6 was the evolution of many structural and constructional steels of high quality. Following outline is based first on the experience of the author during his profession of about thirty years linked to this métier, second on intensive researches on special literature focused on German and Swedish sources, and at least based on discussions with metallurgists and material scientists who have spent partially events of this development before the Second World War.