AISI M50 Bearing Steel: プロパティ, アプリケーション & 製造ガイド

If you work in high-performance industries like aerospace, racing, or turbine manufacturing, you need bearing steel that can handle extreme speeds and temperatures.AISI M50 bearing steel—a high-speed, molybdenum-vanadium alloy—delivers exactly that. このガイドは、その重要なプロパティを分解します, 実世界の使用, 製造プロセス, そして、それが他の素材とどのように比較されますか, helping you choose the right steel for high-stress applications.

1. Material Properties of AISI M50 Bearing Steel

AISI M50’s unique alloy composition (especially vanadium and molybdenum) sets it apart from standard bearing steels. そのプロパティを詳細に調べてみましょう.

1.1 化学組成

AISI M50 follows strict American Iron and Steel Institute (アイシ) 基準, 一貫したパフォーマンスを確保します. 以下はその典型的な化学メイクです:

1.2 物理的特性

These properties describe how AISI M50 behaves under physical conditions like heat and magnetism:

• 密度: 7.81 g/cm³ (slightly lower than standard carbon-chromium steels)
• 融点: 1,420 - 1,460 °C (2,588 - 2,660 °F)
• 熱伝導率: 42.0 w/(M・k) で 20 °C (室温)
• 熱膨張係数: 11.2 ×10⁻⁶/°C (から 20 - 100 °C)
• 磁気特性: 強磁性 (磁石を引き付けます), useful for sorting and non-destructive testing.

1.3 機械的特性

Mechanical properties define AISI M50’s performance under force—critical for high-speed applications. All values are measured after standard heat treatment (vacuum quenching and tempering):

1.4 その他のプロパティ

AISI M50’s standout properties make it ideal for extreme conditions:

• 高温性能: Maintains hardness and strength up to 315 °C (600 °F)—perfect for turbine or aerospace bearings.
• 耐摩耗性: Vanadium carbides create an ultra-hard surface, reducing wear from high-speed rolling contact.
• 疲労抵抗: Can withstand millions of high-speed cycles without failing, even under heat.
• ハーデン剤: Excellent—achieves uniform hardness across thick sections via vacuum heat treatment.
• 寸法安定性: Minimizes distortion during heat treatment, ensuring precision in critical parts like bearing races.
• 耐食性: 適度 (better than AISI 52100) but still needs coatings for wet/harsh environments.

2. Applications of AISI M50 Bearing Steel

AISI M50’s ability to handle high speeds, 熱, and wear makes it a top choice for demanding industries. Here are its key uses:

• ベアリング: High-speed bearings in jet engines, ガスタービン, and racing car engines—where temperatures and rotational speeds are extreme.
• Rolling Elements: Balls, ローラー, or needles in high-performance bearings (relying on AISI M50’s wear resistance).
• Races: Inner/outer rings of high-speed bearings (needing dimensional stability and heat resistance).
• 航空宇宙コンポーネント: Bearings in aircraft engines, 着陸装置, and auxiliary power units (APUs)—where reliability is life-critical.
• High-Performance Automotive Parts: Bearings in racing car transmissions, ターボチャージャー, and superchargers.
• 産業機械: Bearings in high-speed gearboxes, centrifuges, and machine tool spindles.
• Turbine Components: Bearings in gas turbines (power generation) and steam turbines—handling high temperatures and speeds.
• 医療機器: Precision bearings in high-speed surgical drills (needing wear resistance and sterilizability).
• High-Speed Machinery: Components in printing presses, textile machines, and robotics—where speed and precision matter.

3. Manufacturing Techniques for AISI M50

Producing AISI M50 requires advanced techniques to unlock its full potential. Here’s the typical process:

1. スチール製造:
   • AISI M50 is made using an 電気弧炉 (EAF) 真空脱気. This removes impurities (硫黄やリンのように) and ensures precise control of alloy elements (especially vanadium and molybdenum).
2. ローリング:
   • 製鉄所の後, the metal is ホットロール (で 1,150 - 1,250 °C) into billets or bars. 精密部品用, it’s then コールドロール (室温) to improve surface finish and dimensional accuracy.
3. Precision Forging:
   • 複雑な部品 (like custom bearing rings) are forged into near-final shapes at high temperatures. This refines the grain structure and enhances mechanical properties—critical for high-speed performance.
4. 熱処理:
   • Vacuum heat treatment is mandatory for AISI M50 to avoid oxidation and ensure uniformity:
     • 消光: 熱に加熱します 1,100 - 1,150 °C in a vacuum, then rapidly cool in high-pressure gas (nitrogen or argon) to harden.
     • 焼き戻し: Reheat to 530 - 560 °C (twice) to reduce brittleness while maintaining high hardness and heat resistance.
     • 浸炭: Rarely used—AISI M50’s alloy content already provides sufficient surface hardness.
5. 機械加工:
   • 加熱後の治療, parts are machined using 研削 (for ultra-smooth surfaces, reducing friction in bearings) そして ミリング (複雑な形の場合). CNC machines ensure tight tolerances (±0.001 mm) for precision parts.
6. 表面処理:
   • パフォーマンスを向上させるためのオプションの手順:
     • ニトリッド: 薄いものを追加します, hard outer layer to boost wear and corrosion resistance.
     • コーティング: Thin ceramic coatings (like TiN) for extreme wear conditions (例えば。, racing engines).
     • Blackening: Forms a protective oxide layer for minor rust prevention.
7. 品質管理:
   • Rigorous testing ensures compliance with AISI standards:
     • 化学分析 (via spectrometry) to verify alloy content.
     • Hardness testing (Rockwell/Vickers) across the part to ensure uniformity.
     • 非破壊検査 (ultrasonic and magnetic particle testing) to detect internal cracks.
     • Dimensional inspection (using coordinate measuring machines, CMMS) to check tolerances.

4. ケーススタディ: AISI M50 in Action

Real-world examples show how AISI M50 solves high-performance challenges.

ケーススタディ 1: Aerospace Engine Bearing Performance

A major aircraft engine manufacturer faced frequent bearing failures in their jet engines (続く 2,000 飛行時間). The original bearings used AISI 52100, which couldn’t handle the engine’s 280 °C動作温度. Switching to AISI M50 bearings (with nitriding) extended bearing life to 8,000 飛行時間. This reduced maintenance costs by $1.2 million per engine over its lifetime.

ケーススタディ 2: High-Speed Turbine Bearing Optimization

A power generation company struggled with turbine bearing failures (毎 6 数ヶ月) due to high speeds (15,000 RPM) and heat. They replaced standard bearings with AISI M50 bearings, paired with vacuum heat treatment. Post-switch, bearing life increased to 3 年, and downtime for maintenance dropped by 90%.

5. AISI M50 vs. Other Bearing Materials

How does AISI M50 compare to other common bearing steels and materials? 下の表はそれを分解します:

Yigu Technology’s Perspective on AISI M50

Yiguテクノロジーで, AISI M50 is our go-to for clients in aerospace and high-performance automotive industries. Its vanadium-molybdenum composition delivers unmatched heat and wear resistance—critical for extreme speeds. We use vacuum heat treatment and precision grinding to ensure parts meet tight tolerances, making our AISI M50 bearings last 3–4x longer than AISI 52100. 追加の保護が必要なクライアント向け, we offer custom nitriding or ceramic coatings. While AISI M50 costs more upfront, it cuts long-term maintenance costs—making it a smart investment for high-stress applications.

FAQ About AISI M50 Bearing Steel

1. Why is vacuum heat treatment needed for AISI M50?
   Vacuum heat treatment prevents oxidation (which harms surface quality) and ensures uniform heating—critical for AISI M50’s vanadium and molybdenum to form hard carbides. This process guarantees consistent hardness and performance across the part.
2. Can AISI M50 be used in corrosive environments?
   It has moderate corrosion resistance (better than AISI 52100). For wet or chemical-rich environments (例えば。, 海兵隊), apply a nitriding layer or ceramic coating to prevent rust and extend service life.
3. Is AISI M50 more expensive than other bearing steels?
   Yes—AISI M50 costs 2–3x more than AISI 52100 or 100Cr6. But its longer life (3–4x) and ability to handle extreme conditions make it cost-effective for high-performance applications like aerospace or racing.