Method for producing a rolling element bearing component, rolling element bearing component, and rolling element bearing

Abstract

A method for producing a rolling bearing component includes forming the rolling bearing component from a 100CrMnSi6-4 or 100Cr6 rolling bearing steel, heating the rolling bearing component, quenching the rolling bearing component, heating the rolling bearing component and holding the rolling bearing component. The rolling bearing component to heated to an austenitizing temperature to form an austenitic microstructure. The rolling bearing component is quenched in a hot salt bath to a first temperature of between 170° C. and 200° C. such that there is a pearlitic or ferritic microstructure in a core region of the rolling bearing component. The rolling bearing component is heated to a second temperature between 220° C. and 280° C. The rolling bearing component is held at the second temperature for a holding time of at least 7 hours such that there is a predominantly bainitic microstructure formed on a surface of the rolling bearing component.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.