Analysis of short life flaking due to hydrogen embrittlement (influence of micro slip on flaking due to hydrogen embrittlement)

Abstract

Bearings used for automotive powertrains sometimes suffer flaking damage that unexpectedly shortens their life due to peculiar microstructural changes at their subsurface. In this paper, based on various experiments and calculations, we describe the cause of such flaking. The experimental results suggest that this flaking is a kind of hydrogen embrittlemet caused by the diffusion of hydrogen into the steel due to the decomposition of the lubricant, and that in affected by the amount of relative slip ratio between ball and bearing race.