Environmental effects on fitting corrosion of AISI 440C ball bearing steels - Experimental results (c)

As part of a Study, to determine the failure mechanisms of ball bearings, e nvironmental effects, such as the contamination of the lubricant with water and sodium chloride, were studied. Tests performed at room temperature and 70 degrees C,vith different levels of contaminants show the presence of pi tting corrosion. Contaminated lubricant also leads to enhanced hydrogen con tents, to levels that, in certain cases, have been pl previously shown to i nduce hydrogen embrittlement failure of ball bearing systems. Hydrogen in t he steel is postulated to originate from proton reduction within a pit.