52100 STEEL (100CR6): AIR-MELT, VAR & VIM-VAR
52100 is a high-carbon chromium alloy steel, which, because of its versatility, is used in a variety of mechanical applications. In the annealed condition this steel is comparatively easy to machine, yet very high hardness and abrasion resistance can be developed by heat treatment to make the steel particularly suitable for applications requiring extreme wear resistance, such as bearings.
In addition, 52100 alloy steel can be heat treated to high levels of tensile strength and fatigue strength.
FOR REQUIREMENTS: | Standard Bearing Steel |
MELT PRACTICE: | Air-Melt |
SPECIFICATIONS: | AMS 6440 ASTM A295 MIL-S-7420 (CANCELED/ SUPERSEDED BY AMS 6440) ASTM A485 (for modified grades) |
ABOUT 52100 VAR and VIM-VAR
52100 VAR and 52100 VIM-VAR steel are deep hardening alloy steels used for aircraft bearings and other high-stressed parts where superior rolling contact fatigue strength is required. Both grades are distinguished from 52100 air-melt by their production processes, designed to enhance the steel's performance in demanding applications.
FOR REQUIREMENTS: | Aircraft bearing steel |
MELT PRACTICE: |
VAR |
SPECIFICATIONS: | AMS 6444 AMS 6440 ASTM A295 |
52100 VAR steel is produced through the Vacuum-Arc Remelting (VAR) process, which significantly improves the cleanliness and internal soundness of the steel compared to conventionally air-melted bearing quality SAE 52100 steel.
52100 VIM-VAR steel expands on the VAR process, incorporating an additional step using Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) before remelting the steel via VAR. The VIM process melts the steel under vacuum conditions to achieve unparalleled cleanliness and internal quality.
Get 52100 VAR At Sullivan Steel
52100 steel is available in bar stock, tubing, and wire.
Type | OD | |
---|---|---|
52100 Tube OD Ranges | Cold Drawn or Roto-rocked | 0.777″ – 2.708″ |
Hot Rolled | 1.932″ – 12.143″ | |
52100 Bar Diameter Ranges |
Cold Drawn | 0.130″ – 2.750″ |
Rough Turned | 1.000″ – 2.875″ | |
Hot Rolled | 2.559″ – 12.143″ | |
Forged & Turned | 10.000″ – 15.50″ | |
VAR | 0.236″ – 6.000″ | |
VIM-VAR | 0.375”– 5.500” | |
52100 Wire AMS 6440 | Can be drawn to custom size wire or bar | 0.216” – 0.413” |
Chemical Composition of 52100 Steel and Modified Grades
52100 steel modified grades were developed to enable the hardening of thicker cross sections. The table below shows the difference in chemical composition between standard 52100 steel and modified grades.
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Comparison to Other Materials
52100 steel provides toughness and hardness that set it apart from other types of steel.
Tool Steels – Compared with tool steels in general, 52100 is less expensive and is much easier to handle. It is easier to form and machine than most tool steels yet can, after simple heat treatment, develop many of the properties of tool steels.
Carburizing Grades – Compared with the carburizing grades of alloy steels, 52100 sacrifices some machinability but in return the user has a material with a much more simple and inexpensive heat treatment that minimizes distortion.
Heat Treatment
For 52100 steel heat treatment, it is recommended for through hardening by oil quenching in sections up to 0.5 inch. For sections over 0.5 inches it may be necessary to water-quench for full hardness.
In order to eliminate the necessity of water-quenching and subsequent danger of distortion or cracking, two modifications have been developed for oil quenching:
ASTM A485-Grade 1 – recommended for sections 0.500 to 0.750 inch
ASTM A485-Grade 3 – recommended for sections from 0.750 to 1.500 inch.
Machinability
52100 alloy steel tubing is generally furnished in the spheroidized annealed condition, each finish is in a condition for optimum machinability for its type, and for maximum uniformity after heat treatment.
The long spheroidizing anneal may decarburize the exposed OD and ID tube surfaces to depths controlled by ASTM A295. This shallow decarburized surface must be removed in machining.
Applications
High hardness and with maximum Brinell Hardness Number 207 for hot-finished or turned tubing, and 248 for cold-drawn tubing; roto-rocked tubing may exhibit a Brinell Hardness up to 331.
- Anti-Friction Bearings & Rollers
- Slitting Rolls, Spacers and Knives
- Knife Blades and Cutlery
- Seals, Sleeves & Bushings
- Tools, Dies & Molds
- Engine & Hydraulic Parts
52100 VAR and VIM-VAR are used for aircraft bearings, such as flight control (flap & slat) applications, where fatigue life is critical.
Sullivan Steel has 52100 in Stock
At Sullivan, we carry 52100 steel in bar stock, tubing, and wire. For fatigue-critical applications, we supply 52100 VAR and VIM-VAR, as well as modified grades ASTM A485 Grade 1 and Grade 3.
We stand behind the steel we sell and provide guidance and technical support to help you select the grade that can achieve the properties needed for your application. Contact our experts for questions about using 52100, 52100 VAR or VIM-VAR, or modified grades for your application.