GB GCr15 Bearing Steel
GB GCr15 steel is a high-carbon chromium bearing steel widely used in the manufacturing of rolling element bearings and other precision components in machinery and automotive industries. It is known for its excellent combination of high hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue strength, making it suitable for demanding applications where reliability and durability are crucial.
Related Specifications: ASTM A29/A29M GB EN 10083/3 JIS G4053 GB GB/T 3077
Chemical Composition:
Element |
Composition (%) |
Carbon (C) |
0.95-1.05 |
Silicon (Si) |
0.15-0.35 |
Manganese (Mn) |
0.20-0.40 |
Phosphorus (P) |
≤0.027 |
Sulfur (S) |
≤0.020 |
Chromium (Cr) |
1.40-1.65 |
Nickel (Ni) |
≤0.30 |
Copper (Cu) |
≤0.25 |
Properties:
- High Hardness: GCr15 steel exhibits high hardness after heat treatment, providing excellent wear resistance and load-carrying capacity in bearing applications.
- Good Wear Resistance: It offers good resistance to wear and abrasion, extending the service life of bearings and reducing maintenance requirements.
- High Fatigue Strength: GCr15 steel possesses high fatigue strength, allowing bearings to withstand repeated cyclic loading and stress without failure.
- Excellent Dimensional Stability: It maintains dimensional stability under varying operating conditions, ensuring precise alignment and smooth operation of bearings.
- Corrosion Resistance: GCr15 steel has moderate corrosion resistance, particularly when properly lubricated, protecting bearings from rust and degradation in harsh environments.
- Good Machinability: It exhibits good machinability in the annealed or normalized condition, allowing for ease of machining, shaping, and forming processes.
- Heat Resistance: GCr15 steel retains its hardness and mechanical properties at elevated temperatures, enabling reliable performance in high-speed and high-temperature applications.
Heat Treatment:
GCr15 steel undergoes heat treatment processes such as annealing, hardening, and tempering to optimize its mechanical properties for specific applications. Annealing relieves internal stresses and improves machinability, while hardening increases hardness and wear resistance. Tempering reduces brittleness and enhances toughness, ensuring a balance of hardness and toughness in the final product.
Surface Treatment:
Surface treatments such as nitriding, induction hardening, or chromium plating can be applied to GCr15 steel to further enhance its surface hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance in demanding operating conditions.
Quality Assurance:
GB GCr15 steel is manufactured to meet national standards such as GB/T 18254 and international standards like ISO 683-17. Quality assurance processes ensure consistency in chemical composition, mechanical properties, and dimensional accuracy of the material. Rigorous quality control measures are implemented throughout the production process to ensure that GCr15 steel meets the stringent requirements of end-users and applications.
Environmental Considerations:
In manufacturing processes involving GCr15 steel, environmental considerations such as waste management, emissions control, and energy efficiency should be addressed to minimize environmental impact. Sustainable practices, recycling, and proper disposal of waste materials are essential to reduce environmental pollution and promote environmental sustainability in the industry.
Applications:
- Rolling Element Bearings: GCr15 steel is primarily used in the manufacturing of rolling element bearings for various machinery and automotive applications, including electric motors, gearboxes, automotive wheels, and industrial machinery.
- Precision Components: It finds application in the production of precision components such as shafts, gears, spindles, and valves requiring high hardness, wear resistance, and dimensional accuracy.
- Automotive Parts: GCr15 steel is utilized in the production of automotive components such as camshafts, crankshafts, transmission gears, and steering systems, where high reliability and durability are essential.
- Machine Tool Components: It is employed in the manufacturing of machine tool components like tool holders, chuck jaws, and cutting tool inserts requiring high hardness and wear resistance for metalworking operations.







