Rolling element and producing method

A method for producing a rolling element which has a surface layer mainly composed of martensite, residual austenite, carbide such as cementite having an average grain size of 3 μm or less and no α-Fe phase (ferrite) and which has an inner structure of an (α+γ)-Fe two phase region, said method comprising

• cooling steel material from the austenitic range to form an (α+γ)-Fe two phase inner structure,
• forming a rolling element by plastic working said steel material at a temperature in the range of 800-1300° C.,
• applying one or more types of heat treatment selected from carburization, carbonitriding and nitriding to said rolling element,
• cooling said rolling element, then
• applying a reheating hardening process to said rolling element, said steel material containing:
• at least 1.0 to 4.5 wt % Si and Al in total;
• 0.35 wt % or less C;
• and balance Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein said Al and Si function to reduce deformation resistance in said plastic working for forming the steel material into a rolling element by widening the range of heating temperature for an α-Fe phase region or (α+γ)-Fe two phase region to at least 800° C. to 1,300° C., and to prevent precipitation of coarse cementite in the rolling surface of the rolling element, even if carbon potential is 1.2 wt % or more in the carburization and/or carbonitriding heat treatment which is carried out for the purpose of increasing the strength of the rolling element.