White etching structures in annealed 52100 bearing steel arising from high-pressure torsion tests

White Etching Areas observed in failed rolling bearings have been associated with the presence of Severe Plastic Deformation conditions, which can be achieved by High-Pressure Torsion tests; thus, this technique was selected to produce Structures annealed AISI 52100. Their origin arises from two main phenomena: Firstly, relative movement between anvil/samples creates instabilities and interruption plastic flow close surface sample. Secondly, hard discontinuities such as carbide clusters non-metallic inclusions interrupt inside samples. Both phenomena seem promote dissolution ferritic matrix so could not only but also Areas.