Accelerated White Etch Cracking (WEC) FE8 type tests of different bearing steels using ceramic rollers

White Etch Cracking (WEC) is a severe and unpredictable failure mode affecting bearings in various industrial sectors. In this work, accelerated WEC laboratory tests have been performed using FE8 type test rigs with ceramic rollers to the resistance of different bearing materials, materials quality roughness. It demonstrated that method can reliably consistently provoke commercially available washers. Tests washers roughness values did not show significant changes time failure. through hardened steel low content inclusions resulted significantly longer compared baseline. Through black oxide coating improve life as was worn away during testing. two types carbo-nitrided gave failure, which one particular showed high towards formation.