Designation: A 485 – 94 An American National Standard

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Specification for

High Hardenability Antifriction Bearing Steel1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 485; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense. Consult the DoD Index of Specifications and
Standards for the specific year of issue which has been adopted by the Department of Defense.

1. Scope include the following information:

1.1 This specification covers high hardenability modifica- 3.1.1 Quantity (weight or number of pieces),
tions of high-carbon bearing quality steel to be used in the 3.1.2 Grade identification,
manufacture of antifriction bearings. 3.1.3 ASTM designation and year of issue,
1.2 Supplementary requirements of an optional nature are 3.1.4 Dimensions,
provided and when desired shall be so stated in the order. 3.1.5 Supplementary requirements, if included.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 4. Process
as the standard.
4.1 The steel shall be made by a process that is capable of
2. Referenced Documents providing a high quality product meeting the requirements of
2.1 ASTM Standards: this specification.
A 29/A29M Specification for Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, 5. Chemical Composition and Analysis
Hot-Wrought and Cold-Finished, General Requirements
for2 5.1 Typical examples of chemical compositions are shown
A 255 Test Method of End-Quench Test for Hardenability in Table 1. Other compositions may be specified.
of Steel2 5.2 An analysis of each heat of steel shall be made by the
A 751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for steel manufacturer in accordance with Test Methods, Practices,
Chemical Analysis of Steel Products3 and Terminology A 751. The chemical composition thus deter-
E 45 Test Methods For Determining the Inclusion Content mined shall conform to the requirements specified in Table 1
of Steel4 for the ordered grade or to other requirements agreed upon
E 381 Method of Macroetch Testing, Inspection, and Rating between manufacturer and purchaser.
Steel Products, Comprising Bars, Billets, Blooms, and 5.3 Product analysis may be made by the purchaser in
Forgings4 accordance with Test Methods, Practice, and Terminology
E 1019 Test Methods for Determination of Carbon, Sulfur, A 751. Permissible variations in product analysis shall be in
Nitrogen, and Oxygen in Steel and in Iron, Nickel, and accordance with Specification A 29/A 29M.
Cobalt Alloys5 6. Sizes, Shapes, and Dimensional Tolerances
E 1077 Test Method for Estimating the Depth of Decarbur-
ization of Steel Specimens4 6.1 The physical size and shape of the material shall be
2.2 Other Standard: agreed upon between manufacturer and purchaser.
SAE J 148a Grain Size Determination of Steel6 6.2 Dimensional tolerances for hot-rolled or hot-rolled and
annealed bars, in straight lengths or coils, and cold-finished
3. Ordering Information bars furnished under this specification shall conform to the
3.1 Orders for material under this specification should requirements specified in the latest edition of Specification
A 29/A 29M.

1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel,
7. Quality Tests
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 7.1 The supplier shall be held responsible for the quality of
A01.28 on Bearing Steels. the material furnished and shall make the necessary tests
Current edition approved June 15, 1994. Published August 1994. Originally
published as A 485 – 63. Last previous edition A 485 – 92. detailed below: Quality tests shown in 7.1 through 7.4 are
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05. based upon procedures established in Practice E 45.
3

4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03. 7.2 Sampling—Samples taken in accordance with the fol-
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.06.
lowing paragraphs shall be obtained from 4 by 4 in. (102 by
6
The Engineering Society for Advanced Mobility of Land, Sea, Air and Space, 102 mm) rolled billets or forged sections. Tests may be made
400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-001. on smaller or larger sections by agreement with the purchaser.

1
 A 485
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements TABLE 2 Inclusion Rating
Composition, %
Rating Units
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4
Thin Series Heavy Series
Carbon 0.90–1.05 0.85–1.00 0.95–1.10 0.95–1.10
Manganese 0.95–1.25 1.40–1.70 0.65–0.90 1.05–1.35 A—2 1⁄2 A—1 1⁄2
Phosphorus, max 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 B—2.0 B—1.0
Sulfur, max 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 C—1.0 C—1.0
Silicon 0.45–0.75 0.50–0.80 0.15–0.35 0.15–0.35 D—1.5 D—1.0
Chromium 0.90–1.20 1.40–1.80 1.10–1.50 1.10–1.50
Nickel, max 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Copper, max 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35
Molybdenum 0.10 max 0.10 max 0.20–0.30 0.45–0.60
9. Hardenability
9.1 Each heat shall be tested for hardenability. Normalizing
A minimum of 3 to 1 reduction of rolled billets or forged followed by spheroidize annealing shall precede heating for
sections is required for strand cast products. end quenching. In heating for end quenching, the test speci-
7.2.1 For top poured products, a minimum of six samples mens shall be held for a minimum of 30 min at 1500 6 8°F
representing the top and bottom of the first, middle and last (815 6 4.5°C). End-quench procedure shall be in accordance
usable ingots shall be examined. with Method A 255. The “J” values for hardenability as shown
7.2.2 For bottom poured products, a minimum of six in Table 3 shall apply.
samples shall be taken from semi-finished or finished product
representing the top and bottom of three ingots. One ingot shall 10. Decarburization and Surface Imperfections
be taken at random from the first usable plate poured, one ingot 10.1 Decarburization and surface imperfections shall not
at random from the usable plate poured nearest to the middle of exceed the limits specified in Table 4. Decarburization shall be
the heat, and one ingot at random from the last usable plate measured using the microscopical methods described in Test
poured. When a heat is constitued by two usable plates, two of Method E 1077.
the sample ingots shall be selected from the second usable plate
poured. When a heat consists of a single usable plate, any three 11. Microstructure and Hardness
random ingots may be selected. 11.1 The material shall be free of excessive carbide segre-
7.2.3 For strand cast products, a minimum of six samples gation.
representing the first, middle, and last portion of the heat cast 11.2 When annealing is specified in the order, the steel shall
shall be examined. At least one sample shall be taken from have a microstructure completely spheroidized, or as agreed
each strand. upon, and the maximum hardness as specified in Table 5.
7.3 Macroetch—Specimens representative of cross-sections
of billets shall be macroetched and rated in accordance with 12. Inspection
Method E 381in hydrochloric acid and water (1.1) at 60 to
12.1 The manufacturer shall afford the purchaser’s inspector
180°F (71 to 82°C). Such specimens shall not exceed S2, R2,
all reasonable facilities necessary to satisfy him that
C2 of Method E 381.
the material is being produced and furnished in accordance
7.4 Inclusion Rating—Specimens approximately 3⁄8 by 3⁄4
with this specification. Mill inspection by the purchaser shall
in. (9.5 by 19.1 mm) shall be taken from an area halfway
not interfere unnecessarily with the manufacturer’s operations.
between the center and outside of the billet. The polished face
All tests and inspections shall be made at the place of
shall be longitudinal to the direction of rolling. The scale used
manufacture, unless otherwise agreed to.
for rating the specimens shall be the chart described in Practice
E 45, Method A, Plate III. Plate I is to be used for inclusion 13. Certification and Reports
exceeding a rating of 2 1⁄2. Inclusion fields with sizes or
numbers intermediate between configurations shown on the 13.1 Upon request of the purchaser in the contract or order,
chart shall be classified as the lesser of the rating number. The a manufacturer’s certification that the material was manufac-
worst field of each inclusion type from each specimen shall be tured and tested in accordance with this specification together
recorded as the rating for the specimen. Two thirds of all with a report of the test results shall be furnished at the time of
specimens and at least one from each ingot tested, or from the shipment.
first, middle and last portion of the strands tested as well as the
average of all specimens, shall not exceed the rating specified TABLE 3 Hardenability Values
in Table 2. If specifically ordered and certified to Supplemen-
tary Requirement S5, Type A inclusion ratings shall not exceed Grade Rockwell C
3.0 thin and 2.0 heavy. See S5.1. Minimum Rockwell C Values at Sixteenth of Inch
10 20 28
8. Grain Size
1 46 ... ...
8.1 The steels covered by this specification shall have the 2 ... 52 32
capability of showing fine fracture grain size (approximately 3 46 ... ...
ASTM No. 8) (SAE J 418a) when quenched from normal 4 ... 52 35

austenizing temperatures not exceeding 1550°F (843°C).

2
 A 485
TABLE 4 Decarburization and Surface Imperfections for Bars and Tubes

Maximum Decarburiation or Surface Imperfections per Side, in. (mm)

Size, in. (mm) Hot-Rolled Bars Hot-Rolled Annealed Cold-Finished Annealed
Bars Tubes Bars Tubes
Over 1.000 (25.4) to 2.000 (50.8), 0.017 (0.43) 0.022 (0.56) 0.020 (0.51) 0.017 (0.43) 0.014 (0.36)
incl
Over 2.000 (50.8) to 3.000 (76.2), 0.025 (0.64) 0.030 (0.76) 0.030 (0.76) 0.025 (0.64) 0.019 (0.48)
incl
Over 3.000 (76.2) to 4.000 0.035 (0.89) 0.045 (1.14) 0.035 (0.89) ... 0.024 (0.61)
(101.6),
incl
Over 4.000 (101.6) to 5.000 0.055 (1.40) 0.065 (1.65) 0.040 (1.02) ... 0.028 (0.71)
(127.0), incl

TABLE 5 Hardness Limits for Annealed Material

Product Condition Maximum Hardness

Brinell Rockell
Coils hot-rolled, ... B 97
annealed
Bars and tubes hot-rolled, 217 ...
annealed
Coils annealed, ... B 92
cold drawn
(stress
relieved)
Coils, bars, and tubes annealed, 260 ...
cold drawnA
A
Cold swaged material is not included.

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

One or more of the supplementary requirements described below apply when included in
purchaser’s order or contract. When so included, a supplementary requirement shall have the same
force as if it were in the body of the specification. Supplementary requirements details not fully
described shall be agreed upon between the purchaser and the supplier, but shall not negate any of the
requirements in the body of the specification.

S1. Residual Elements fluorspar, or both, in the steelmaking slag is acceptable.

S1.1 The purchaser may specify that the analysis of tita-
nium, aluminum, and/or oxygen (Test Method E 1019), be S4. Magnetic Particle Method
provided by agreement with the steel manufacturer. The S4.1 The purchaser may specify that the magnetic particles
number and location of samples shall be by agreement between method described below be used in addition to the micro-
the purchaser and manufacturer. inclusion rating system described in 7.4. The magnetic particle
S2. “SAM” Inclusion Rating System method measures bearing steel cleanliness by evaluating the
total length of macro-inclusions for a stated area or per unit
S2.1 The purchaser may specify that the “SAM” inclusion area. Results are commonly expressed in mm/m2.
rating method, described in Method E of Practice E 45, be used
S4.2 Sampling—See 7.2.
in addition to the micro-inclusion rating method described in
7.4. S4.3 Test specimens shall be straight cylinder quarter sec-
S2.2 Sampling—See Section 7. tion samples prepared and examined in accordance with the
S2.3 Limits—The “SAM” rating for Type B inclusions shall magnetic particle method of Practice E 45.
not exceed 15. The “SAM” rating for Type D inclusions shall S4.4 For purposes of calculation, an inclusion length shall
not exceed 10. be taken as the mean length of the length bracket in which it
falls; that is, an inclusion in the 1⁄16to 1⁄8in. bracket shall be
S3. Calcium Additions taken as being 3⁄32in length. The sum of all lengths for each
S3.1 Intentional additions of calcium or calcium alloys for specimen shall be determined and expressed as total length per
deoxidation or inclusion shape control are not permitted unless area inspected. The average total length per area inspected of
specifically approved by the purchaser. The use of lime or all six specimens shall not exceed 200 mm/m2(or equivalent).

3
 A 485
S5. Minimum Sulfur Requirement S6. Sample Reduction Ratio
S5.1 When a minimum sulfur requirement is specified for S6.1 For the sampling described in 7.2, the purchaser may
improved machinability, the sulfide (Type A) ratings of 7.4 specify that the reduction ratio from as-cast section to test
shall be 3.0 thin and 2.0 heavy. section be provided.
S5.2 The maximum sulfur content shall remain 0.025 %.
S5.3 The manufacturer’s certification shall state that mate-
rial was produced to this supplementary requirement when
applicable.

The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such
patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible
technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should make your
views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.