Uncontrolled print copy by Samed Patil on:16, Feb 2021 State: Released

No.
METALS
METALLURGICAL & MECHANICAL TESTING © 11H 1551 202
STANDARDS & PRACTICES Microscopic Methods for Examining
Ed. Date Page

Non-metallic Inclusions in Bearing Steel 14 2018-11 211

Product Standards
D30 Materials Engineering General
Comp. Issued Approved

ERC A.Kerrigan M.Ersson

1 SAMPLING AND SPECIMENS (MANDATORY)

The number of test specimens and the test specimen geometry (position, orientation and
size) are defined in ISO 4967 and the SKF D30 Sampling Plans.
The micro-inclusion rating can be made on the following sample types:
• Billets with a minimum reduction ratio of 1:3 for ingot cast and continuously cast
material.
• For bars, the diameter is preferably between 50 mm and 100 mm.
• The bar reduction ratio shall be between 1:10 and 1:60.
• If the bar diameter is not between 50 mm and 100 mm, the reduction ratio of the
bar shall be between 1:10 and 1:60.
• If the reduction ratio requirement is not fulfilled, the rating shall be for information.

2 PROCEDURE FOR SPECIMEN PREPARATION (MANDATORY)

2.1 Hardening of Specimens

All specimens must be martensitically hardened and tempered prior to metallographic
specimen preparation.

2.2 Metallographic Specimen Preparation

Metallographic specimens must be prepared according to the procedures defined in ASTM E3
Table 6, "Preparation Method 2 for Harder Materials > HRC 45 (450 HV)", down to a
diamond abrasive size of 1 µm. It is recommended not to use aluminium oxide as a polishing
media during polishing of micro-inclusion specimens.

3 NON-METALLIC INCLUSION RATING METHODOLOGIES

3.1 ISO 4967

3.1.1 The rating is performed using ISO 4967 Method A (Worst Field) with attention to the
following requirements.

• All inclusions with a maximum aspect ratio of 3:1 shall be rated as D-type (globular)
inclusions.
• The minimum size of a D-type (globular) to be rated is 5 µm.
• Titanium (carbo)nitride inclusions shall be rated as B-type inclusions (stringers) or D-type
inclusions (globular) depending on the morphology.

The micro-inclusion rating shall be performed on a minimum of 6 metallographic specimens.

The mean of all of the specimens shall be within the specification limits in D33 for all
inclusion types.
At least two-thirds of the specimens shall be within the specification limits in D33 for all
inclusion types.

This document is SKF property and must not be copied in its original or modified state, reproduced or used for any unauthorized purpose, nor
may its contents be imparted to a third party without written permission. Contravention will lead to prosecution.
Uncontrolled print copy by Samed Patil on:16, Feb 2021 State: Released

No.
METALS
METALLURGICAL & MECHANICAL TESTING © 11H 1551 202
STANDARDS & PRACTICES Microscopic Methods for Examining
Ed. Date Page

Non-metallic Inclusions in Bearing Steel 14 2018-11 211

Product Standards
D30 Materials Engineering General
Comp. Issued Approved

ERC A.Kerrigan M.Ersson

Note that the calculation for two-thirds shall be rounded to the nearest integer, as indicated
in the table.

No. of specimens 6 8 10
Two-thirds plus rounding 4 5 7

3.1.2 D-type inclusions larger than 13 µm shall be classified as "oversized" inclusions. The rating
of oversized inclusions shall be according to the "DS" classification in ISO 4967.
The relationship between the size of the DS inclusion and the rating limit can be found in
ISO 4967, Table 1 "Rating limits (minimum values)".

DS inclusions have a maximum aspect ratio of 3:1.

The diameter of the DS inclusion is the maximum dimension.

The rating of DS inclusions shall be performed on minimum of 6 metallographic specimens.

The mean of all of the specimens shall be within the specification limits in D33 for DS.
At least two-thirds of the specimens shall be within the specification limits in D33 for DS.

3.1.3 To determine the thin and heavy series for each type of inclusion, the following inclusion
thickness parameters shall be applied.
Thin Heavy
Group Minimum width Maximum width Minimum width Maximum width
type (µm) (µm) (µm) (µm)
A 2 4 >4 12
B 2 9 >9 15
C 2 5 >5 12
D 5 8 >8 13

Note: For type D, the maximum dimension is defined as the diameter.

3.1.4 When there is porosity directly associated with a DS inclusion, the micro-inclusion size rating
shall include the associated porosity. It is recommended that a photograph is taken,
particularly if the rating exceeds the specification limits.

This document is SKF property and must not be copied in its original or modified state, reproduced or used for any unauthorized purpose, nor
may its contents be imparted to a third party without written permission. Contravention will lead to prosecution.