Mössbauer characterisation of bearing steels and dark etching regions

Sebastián Echeverri Restrepo; Hanzheng Huang; Mohamed Y. Sherif; A. Iulian Dugulan

doi:10.1007/s10853-025-10930-6

Mössbauer characterisation of bearing steels and dark etching regions

Sebastián Echeverri Restrepo^*
, Hanzheng Huang
, Mohamed Y. Sherif
, A. Iulian Dugulan

^*Corresponding author for this work

Team Maria Santofimia Navarro

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

Dark etching regions (DERs) are a widely studied phenomenon in the context of sub-surface microstructure decay in rolling bearings. These regions result from dislocation motion (plasticity) and carbon migration due to rolling contact fatigue (RCF). We conducted a systematic study using Mössbauer spectroscopy to identify phase evolution during tempering and DER formation. Our findings resolve a long-standing debate in the literature by demonstrating that fine temper carbides dissolve during DER formation. A slight decrease in non-stoichiometric carbides was observed in the DERs, indicating the dissolution of fine carbides. The released carbon is believed to back-diffuse into ferrite and/or martensite.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	8536-8544
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Materials Science
Volume	60
Issue number	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-025-10930-6
Publication status	Published - 2025

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Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care
Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

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title = "M{\"o}ssbauer characterisation of bearing steels and dark etching regions",

abstract = "Dark etching regions (DERs) are a widely studied phenomenon in the context of sub-surface microstructure decay in rolling bearings. These regions result from dislocation motion (plasticity) and carbon migration due to rolling contact fatigue (RCF). We conducted a systematic study using M{\"o}ssbauer spectroscopy to identify phase evolution during tempering and DER formation. Our findings resolve a long-standing debate in the literature by demonstrating that fine temper carbides dissolve during DER formation. A slight decrease in non-stoichiometric carbides was observed in the DERs, indicating the dissolution of fine carbides. The released carbon is believed to back-diffuse into ferrite and/or martensite.",

author = "\{Echeverri Restrepo\}, Sebasti{\'a}n and Hanzheng Huang and Sherif, \{Mohamed Y.\} and Dugulan, \{A. Iulian\}",

note = "Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1007/s10853-025-10930-6",

language = "English",

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T1 - Mössbauer characterisation of bearing steels and dark etching regions

AU - Echeverri Restrepo, Sebastián

AU - Huang, Hanzheng

AU - Sherif, Mohamed Y.

AU - Dugulan, A. Iulian

N1 - Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Dark etching regions (DERs) are a widely studied phenomenon in the context of sub-surface microstructure decay in rolling bearings. These regions result from dislocation motion (plasticity) and carbon migration due to rolling contact fatigue (RCF). We conducted a systematic study using Mössbauer spectroscopy to identify phase evolution during tempering and DER formation. Our findings resolve a long-standing debate in the literature by demonstrating that fine temper carbides dissolve during DER formation. A slight decrease in non-stoichiometric carbides was observed in the DERs, indicating the dissolution of fine carbides. The released carbon is believed to back-diffuse into ferrite and/or martensite.

AB - Dark etching regions (DERs) are a widely studied phenomenon in the context of sub-surface microstructure decay in rolling bearings. These regions result from dislocation motion (plasticity) and carbon migration due to rolling contact fatigue (RCF). We conducted a systematic study using Mössbauer spectroscopy to identify phase evolution during tempering and DER formation. Our findings resolve a long-standing debate in the literature by demonstrating that fine temper carbides dissolve during DER formation. A slight decrease in non-stoichiometric carbides was observed in the DERs, indicating the dissolution of fine carbides. The released carbon is believed to back-diffuse into ferrite and/or martensite.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105005778611

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DO - 10.1007/s10853-025-10930-6

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EP - 8544

JO - Journal of Materials Science

JF - Journal of Materials Science

IS - 20

ER -

Mössbauer characterisation of bearing steels and dark etching regions

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