Technical Report 1/1998

Ovako Steel Cleanliness

Specifications

ISSN 0284-3366

OVAKO STEEL
Ovako Steel is the leading European producer of bearing steel and a major manufacturer of other
special engineering steels. We are a fully owned subsidiary in the SKF group.
Our main strengths is in the field of long special engineering steel products seamless tube, bar,
heavy wire rod and surface removed wire. Rolled rings are also a specialty. A large part of the
production is further processed by machining or forging. This share is increasing and illustrates our
intention to progress towards further processing and higher specialization.
The most important customer segments are the rolling bearing industry, the automotive
industry, and general machinery industries.
We have manufacturing units in Sweden, Germany, France, the U.K, Italy and the United States.
Steel production is confined to Hofors, in Sweden. The production capacity is approx. 500,000 ton
of special engineering steel per year.
Research & Development
Our R&D mission is to pursue an efficient product and process development, adapted to existing
and new technology, and within our product areas be recognized as the world leader in metallurgy,
materials technology, machinability and metal cutting technology as well as heat treatment. The
ultimate targets is to offer our customers the best total economy in their production.

Abstract
Due to continuous developments in steel making
practise and consistency it has been possible to
further reduce the maximum oxygen contents of
Ovako Steel products. The main change is that the
maximum oxygen content of Bearing Quality
through hardening bearing steels (which is about
75% of Ovako Steels current production) has been
reduced to 7 ppm.
This will ensure consistent and high steel
cleanliness and superior fatigue properties.

Ovako Steel
Cleanliness Specification
Specification Summary
The cleanliness specifications can be summarized
as follows:
Micro inclusions
Specification

Macro inclusions
mm/dm2

Oxygen content
(ppm)

Titanium content
(ppm)

C*<.5% .5<C<.8 C*>.8%

CQ
Q
BQ
PBQ

5
2.5
1

15
11
9

15
9
8

A
Th

B
He

According to customer requirements

15

2.5
1.5
7
30
2.0
1.5
7
30
1.0
0.5

Th

He

Th

He

Th

He

1.0
0.5
0.5

0.5
0.1
0

0
0
0

0
0
0

0.5
0.2
0.2

0.5
0.1
0

*The carbon content of the steel grade

The CQ variant limits are defined according to specific customer request.
The Q-Quality specification apply to all steels produced by Ovako Steel, unless otherwise explicitly stated.
The Bearing Quality is the standard quality level for through-hardening bearing steels.
The micro inclusion ratings given in the specifications are based on sampling and rating as defined in the ASTM A295 specification.
The Premium Bearing Quality also fulfills the inclusion rating specifications of AMS6479. (See page 6)
D-type inclusions are defined as dispersed oxides of globular shape with rounded edges.
Macro-inclusion contents are measured according to the blue fracture test (ISO 3763).

Specification Details
The specification values are based on certain
defined test and evaluation procedures. For some
specification parameters, alternative methods and
specifications are available.

Macro inclusions
The maximum macroinclusions contents in the
specifications are based on blue fracture tests
according to ISO 3763.

In the following, the specifications are discussed in

detail to clarify how each parameter in the
specification is defined.

The Ovako Steel specifications for the quality levels

Q, BQ and PBQ fulfill the requirements of AMS
2300 and AMS 2301.

Quality levels
The CQ Customized Quality level is designed on
basis of direct customer requests.

Oxygen content
The specification values for oxygen are defined as
the heat average based on samples taken from
billets.

The Q Quality specifications apply to all steels

produced at Ovako Steel unless otherwise explicitly
stated.
Some general deviations from Q are:
All through-hardening rolling bearing steel
grades of SAE 52100 type. These steel grades
are produced as Bearing Quality as a standard.
Any steel grade variant which has a sulphur
content requirement that gives a maximum
sulphur content larger than 0.040% S will not
meet the Q requirement for A-type inclusions.
The Bearing Quality is the standard quality level
for through-hardening bearing steels.
Other types of steel, as carburizing and harden and
temper steels can be produced to this quality level
on request.
In order to meet Bearing Quality, certain
requirements must be fulfilled.
The maximum aluminium content of any
steel grade variant required to meet BQ must
normally be 0.030% Al or higher.
Any steel grade variant that has a maximum
sulphur content larger than 0.025% S will
normally not meet the BQ requirement for
A-type inclusions.
The Premium Bearing Quality is intended for very
demanding applications where remelted steel as
ESR and VAR are specified today.
Carburizing-, harden and temper-, spring- and
highcarbon steels can be produced to this quality
level on request.

Titanium content
The titanium values are defined as the heat average
and do not apply for boron treated steels.
Microinclusion ratings
The ratings given in the specifications are based on
sampling and rating as defined in the ASTM A295
specification.
This means that six samples are taken representing
the top and bottom positions of one ingot from the
first, the middle and the last teeming plate.
The six samples are machined from billets and
inclusion rated against the JK/ASTM chart, Plate I-r
according to ASTM E45-95a.
The worst field of each inclusion type from each
specimen is recorded as the rating for the specimen.
To fulfill the Ovako Steel specification,
two thirds of all specimens,
at least one specimen from each ingot tested,
the average of all specimens shall not exceed
the ratings given.
For comparison, the Q and BQ variants are
compared to the 1991 revision of the ASTM A295
specification values below.
A
Th

B
He

Th

C
He

Th

He

Th

He

2.5

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.5

0.5

BQ

2.0

1.5

0.5

0.1

0.2

0.1

ASTM A295-94

2.5

1.5

2.0

1.0

0.5

0.5

1.0

1.0

For Premium Bearing Quality, the steel

specification values given are also based on
sampling and rating according to ASTM A295.
This is to make comparisons of the quality levels
between the specifications more convenient.
However, most often cleanliness requirements for
steels with very high demands on restricted
inclusion contents are based on the AMS 6479.
The PBQ specifications meet the requirements of
AMS 6479.
Type

A
B
C
D

Rating
Thin Heavy
1.0
1.0
0.0
0.5

0.5
0.0
0.0
0.0

Worst field frequency

Thin Heavy
a
a

Total rateable fields frequency, maximum

Thin Heavy

Notes: a) Combined A+B, not more than 3 fields

b) Combined A+B, not more than 8 fields

Quality Control and

Development
The parameters given in the specifications are
monitored with the aid of statistical process control.
This involves sampling plans and control
techniques which ensure that the processes are
capable and that continuous improvement is
effected.
If you would like to receive our quarterly statistical
summaries on BQ Bearing Steel quality, please let
us know.

b
b

Research & Technology

S-813 82 Hofors, Sweden

Copyright Ovako Steel 1998.

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