NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.

Contact ASTM
International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.

Designation: A 295 – 98

Standard Specification for

High-Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing Steel1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 295; 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.

1. Scope ISO 683, Part 17 Ball and Roller Bearing Steels7

1.1 This specification covers high-carbon bearing-quality 3. Ordering Information
steel to be used in the manufacture of anti-friction bearings.
1.2 Supplementary requirements of an optional nature are 3.1 Orders for material under this specification should
provided and when desired shall be so stated in the order. include the following information:
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 3.1.1 Quantity,
as the standard. 3.1.2 Grade identification,
3.1.3 Specification designation and year of issue,
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.4 Dimensions, and
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3.1.5 Supplementary requirements, if included.
A 29/A 29M Specification for Steel Bars, Carbon and 4. Process
Alloy, Hot-Wrought and Cold-Finished, General Require-
ments for2 iTeh Standards
A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
4.1 The steel shall be made by a process that is capable of
providing a high quality product meeting the requirements of

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of Steel Products 3 this specification.
A 751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for 5. Chemical Composition and Analysis
Chemical Analysis of Steel Products3

High Carbon Bearing Steels 2

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A 892 Guide for Defining and Rating the Microstructure of
in
5.1 Typical examples of chemical compositions are shown
Table 1. Other compositions may be specified.
E 45 Practice for Determining the Inclusion Content of 5.2 An analysis of each heat of steel shall be made by the
Steel 4 steel
ASTM A295-98 manufacturer in accordance with Test Methods, Practices,
E 381 Method of Macroetch Testing, Inspection, and Rating and Terminology A 751. The chemical composition thus deter-
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mined shall conform to the requirements specified in Table 1
Steel Products, Comprising Bars, Billets, Blooms, and
Forgings4 for the ordered grade or to other requirements agreed upon
E 1019 Test Methods for Determination of Carbon, Sulfur, between manufacturer and purchaser.
Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Hydrogen in Steel and in Iron, 5.3 Product analysis may be made by the purchaser in
Nickel, and Cobalt Alloys 5 accordance with Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology
E 1077 Test Method for Estimating the Depth of Decarbur- A 751. Permissible variations in product analysis shall be in
ization of Steel Specimens 4 accordance with Specification A 29/A 29M.
2.2 Other Documents: 6. Sizes, Shapes, and Dimensional Tolerances
SAE J418a Grain Size Determination of Steel6
6.1 The physical size and shape of the material shall be
agreed upon between manufacturer and purchaser.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel, 6.2 Dimensional tolerances for hot-rolled or hot-rolled and
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee annealed bars, in straight lengths or coils, and cold-finished
A01.28 on Bearing Steels.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1998. Published February 1999. Originally
bars 0.500 in. (12.7 mm) and larger in diameter furnished under
published as A 295 – 46 T. Last previous edition A 295 – 94. this specification shall conform to the requirements specified in
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05. the latest edition of Specification A 29/29M.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.06.
6 7
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1 rue de
Warrendale, PA 15096. Varembé, Case postale 56, CH-1211, Genève 20, Switzerland.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn. Contact ASTM
International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.

A 295 – 98
TABLE 1 CompositionA,B
C
Element 52100 5195 UNS K19526 1070M 5160
Carbon 0.93-1.05 0.90-1.03 0.89-1.01 0.65-0.75 0.56-0.64
Manganese 0.25-0.45 0.75-1.00 0.50-0.80 0.80-1.10 0.75-1.00
Phosphorus (max) 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025
Sulfur (max) 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.015
Silicon 0.15-0.35 0.15-0.35 0.15-0.35 0.15-0.35 0.15-0.35
Chromium 1.35-1.60 0.70-0.90 0.40-0.60 0.20 (max) 0.70-0.90
Nickel (max) 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Copper (max) 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30
Molybdenum 0.10 (max) 0.10 (max) 0.08-0.15 0.10 (max) 0.10 (max)
Aluminum (max) (total) 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.050
Oxygen (max)D 0.0015 0.0015 0.0015 0.0015 0.0015
A
Elements not quoted shall not be intentionally added to the steel without the agreement of the purchaser.
B
Intentional additions of calcium or calcium alloys for deoxidation or inclusion shape control are not permitted unless specifically approved by the purchaser.
C
Specified element ranges meet the requirements of ISO 683, Part 17, Table 3, NO. B1, 100CR6.
D
Oxygen content applies to product analysis and shall be determined in accordance with Test Method E 1019.

6.3 Dimensional tolerances for cold-finished coils for ball 7.3 Macroetch—Specimens representative of cross sections
and roller material shall be as shown in Table 2. of billets shall be macroetched and rated in accordance with
6.4 Coil tolerances also apply to cold-finished straight Method E 381 in hydrochloric acid and water (1:1) at 160 to
lengths under 0.500 in. in diameter. 180°F (71 to 82°C). Such specimens shall not exceed S2, R2,
and C2 of Method E 381.
7. Quality Tests 7.4 Inclusion Rating—The specimens shall be 3⁄8 by 3⁄4 in.
7.1 The supplier shall be held responsible for the quality of (9.5 by 19.1 mm) and shall be taken from an area halfway
the material furnished and shall make the necessary tests to between the center and outside of the billet. The polished face
ensure this quality. The supplier shall be required to report shall be longitudinal to the direction of rolling. The scale used
iTeh Standards
results of the macroetch and micro-inclusion rating tests
detailed below. Quality tests shown in 7.2 through 7.4 are
for rating the specimens shall be the Jernkontoret chart
described in Practice E 45, Plate I-r. Fields with sizes or

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based upon procedures established in Practice E 45.
7.2 Sampling—Samples taken in accordance with the fol-
numbers of all types of inclusions intermediate between
configurations shown on the chart shall be classified as the
lesser of the rating number. The worst field of each inclusion
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lowing paragraphs shall be obtained from 4 by 4-in. (102 by
102-mm) rolled billets or forged sections. Tests may be made type from each specimen shall be recorded as the rating for the
on smaller or larger sections by agreement between manufac- specimen. Two thirds of all specimens and at least one from
turer and purchaser. A minimum 3 to 1 reduction of rolled each ingot tested, or from the first, middle, and last portion of
ASTM A295-98
billets or forged sections is required for strand cast products. the strands tested, as well as the average of all specimens, shall
not exceed the rating specified in Table 3. If specifically
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For top poured products, a minimum of six samples
representing the top and bottom of the first, middle, and last ordered and certified to Supplementary Requirement S4, Type
usable ingots shall be examined. A inclusion ratings shall not exceed 3.0 thin and 2.0 heavy. See
7.2.2 For bottom poured products, a minimum of six S4.1.
samples shall be examined and they shall represent the top and
bottom of three ingots. One ingot shall be taken at random 8. Grain Size
from the first usable plate poured, one ingot, at random, from 8.1 The steels covered by this specification shall have the
the usable plate poured nearest to the middle of the heat, and capability of showing a fine fracture grain size (approximately
one ingot, at random, from the last usable plate poured. When ASTM No. 8) (SAE J418a) when quenched from normal
two usable plates constitute a heat, two of the sample ingots austenitizing temperatures not exceeding 1550°F (843°C).
shall be selected from the second usable plate poured. Where a
single usable plate constitutes a heat, any three random ingots 9. Decarburization and Surface Imperfections
may be selected. Other methods of sampling shall be as agreed 9.1 Decarburization and surface imperfections shall not
upon between manufacturer and purchaser. exceed the limits specified in Table 4 and Table 5. Decarbur-
7.2.3 For strand cast products, a minimum of six samples ization shall be measured using the microscopical methods
representing the first, middle, and last portion of the heat cast described in Test Method E 1077.
shall be examined. At least one sample shall be taken from
each strand.
TABLE 3 Inclusion Rating
Rating Units
TABLE 2 Dimensional Tolerances for Cold-Finished Coils
Thin Series Heavy Series
Size, in. (mm) Total Tolerance, in. (mm)
A—21⁄2 A—11⁄2
Through 0.096 (2.44) 0.002 (0.05) B—2 B—1
Over 0.096 (2.44) to 0.270 (6.86), incl 0.003 (0.08) C—1⁄2 C—1⁄2
Over 0.270 (6.86) to 0.750 (19.1), incl 0.004 (0.10) D—1 D—1