en Gruppenstandard

Blue fracture test S 266012-3

ICS 19.020 2006-02-14

Descriptors: SEP 1580, SEP 1584, ISO 3763, blue fracture test, quantitative test, non-metallic inclusions

Blaubruch

Deskriptoren: SEP 1580, SEP 1584, ISO 3763, Blaubruch, quantitative Prüfung, nichtmetallische Einschlüsse

Supersedes
INA -
FAG QV 5.108A
LuK -

Previous editions
FAG QV 5.108A: 1993-07

Revisions
Compared to the edition FAG QV 5.108A, the following revisions have been made:
Layout
Elevation to Group Standard

Continued on pp. 2 - 4
Preparing department: Approval Schaeffler KG: Approval LuK:
Häring, Wolfgang ST/HZA-TMWL Süß, Walter SZ/HZA-Q Fasse, Ernst LZ/BHL-Q

Kleinert, Simone ST/HZA-TMWL Dr. Golüke, Horst SI/SWE-Q

Rösch, Oliver ST/SWE-TMWL

Documentation: Check coordination Schaeffler KG: Check coordination LuK:

Braungardt, Marion SZ/HZA-QPS Dr. Welker, Manfred ST/HZA-TMW Calabrese, Carmelo LZ/BHL-QS

Eckert, Gerhard SZ/HZA-QP

Wessel, Frank- ST/SWE-RBS

Michael

Binder S
Section 266

© Schaeffler KG, 2006

All rights reserved. Reproducing or distributing this document, or using or conveying its contents to third parties without the express written consent of the issuing department
is prohibited. Violators are liable for compensatory damage payments.
In case of doubt, the German-language original should be consulted as the authoritative text.
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Contents:

1 General ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
2 Objectives and purpose........................................................................................................................... 2
3 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
4 Area of application ................................................................................................................................... 2
5 Document responsibility.......................................................................................................................... 2
6 Description of the procedure .................................................................................................................. 2
6.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
6.2 Test scope .................................................................................................................................................. 2
6.3 Equipment................................................................................................................................................... 3
6.4 Taking and preparing samples ................................................................................................................... 3
6.5 Procedure ................................................................................................................................................... 3
7 Evaluation.................................................................................................................................................. 4
7.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
7.2 Documentation ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Other applicable standards, standards cited and documents .............................................................................. 4

1 General
This Group standard (S) describes the destructive, quantitative testing of steels (case-hardened, tempering and
through-hardened steels) for non-metallic inclusions.

2 Objectives and purpose

Uniform procedure for determining and assessing the macroscopic purity level by means of blue fracture test.

3 Scope
The organisational scope applies to the Schaeffler Group worldwide.

4 Area of application
This Group standard applies to the assessment of the macroscopic purity level of steels by means of non-
destructive testing.

5 Document responsibility
Central Materials Technology

6 Description of the procedure

6.1 General
Slices are cut from one dimension of the batch to be tested, notched as appropriate and, if possible, hardened and
heated to a blue temper colour before or after fracturing. The non-metallic inclusions which can be seen as light
stripes following the direction of the fibres on the fracture surfaces are evaluated with regard to the recorded
characteristics – length and width.

For the comparison of different suppliers, material with approximately the same forming ratio, i.e. ingot/strand cross
section = 20 - 30 (approx. 60 mm Ø or square and bigger) shall be used.

6.2 Test scope

The stipulations in the corresponding quality inspection guidelines are decisive for the test scope.

A test surface of at least 1dm per batch is required for the blue fracture test.
2

The total test area is calculated as follows:

F = n x d x b [dm ]
2

where
F = total test area
n = number of samples
d = sample size (diameter, edge length)
b = sample thickness
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6.3 Equipment
The following equipment is needed for manufacturing the samples and carrying out the test:
• Cutting device (saw, cutting tool, etc.)
• Notching device (planing machine)
• Hardening unit
• Tempering furnace (min 600°C)
• Press or impact device
• Stereomicroscope with measurement scale
• Light-optical microscope (magnification 100x)

6.4 Taking and preparing samples

The stipulated samples are removed from each batch, perpendicular to the fibre direction, whereby statistical
sampling is required (the slice thicknesses should measure approx. 10 mm for dimensions ≥ 30 mm and 15 mm for
dimensions < 30 mm).

Where required, the slices in the dimension range ≥ 30 mm are provided with a notch on the side face and in the
dimension range < 30 mm with a notch on the outside diameter.

The form of the notch is arbitrary and depends on the equipment used. It can be wedge-shaped or rectangular
(saw cut). It must, however, be ensured that the load is not applied to the base of the notch but to the sides of the
notch during fracturing.

The depth of the notch should not exceed 10% of the diameter or the sample thickness.

Dimension < 30 mm

10 mm
15 mm

The samples should break easily, without any visible plastic deformation.

Generally, the samples should be hardened prior to breaking.

If the test is carried out under different conditions, this must be agreed separately between the supplier and the
customer.

6.5 Procedure
First the samples are broken.

The samples are broken using a press or impact device adapted to the shape of the notch. The easiest way is to
break the sample with a wedge and a hammer whilst the sample is clamped in a V-block. Suitable protective
equipment is required to prevent fragments from flying around.

If not already done so prior to breaking, the samples are then heated to a blue temper colour (sample temperature
and holding time are dependent on the material quality, see following table).

Unalloyed, low alloy steels

e.g. W3, C85, 16MnCr5
270 - 300°C*

Medium alloy, heat resistant steels

e.g. M50, M50NiL
300 - 330°C*
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High alloy, wear resistant steels

e.g. S18-0-1
400 - 430°C*

High alloy, corrosion resistant steels

e.g. BG42, 440C
430 - 530°C*

* The exact temperature is to be determined by a test. The holding time in the furnace is the same for all material
quantities and is a minimum of 30 minutes.

7 Evaluation

7.1 General
The magnification of the microscope must be tested prior to the start of the evaluation using a calibrated
measurement scale.

Only samples with a vertical fracture can be used in the evaluation.

For the purpose of the evaluation, the fracture surfaces of each sample are divided into 6 equal areas. The two
areas near the edge make up the edge zone, the two inner areas make up the core zone and the two remaining
areas make up the middle zone.

The fracture surfaces are examined for any light non-metal inclusions using a stereomicroscope (magnification 10x)
with measurement scale. The length of all non-metallic inclusions found is measured at a magnification of 10x. If
the inclusion length exceeds the minimum length stipulated below, the inclusion is assigned to the edge, middle
and core zones.

For the test described under Point 6.1, non-metallic inclusions with a width of less than 20 µm (across the entire
length) should not be recorded. All other widths are to be evaluated. In case of doubt, the inclusion width should be
determined under the light-optical microscope at a magnification of 100x.

A differentiation should be made between the following when evaluating the lengths of the non-metallic inclusions:

a) To check the requirements of the respective product delivery guidelines, all slag with a minimum length of
1,5 mm are to be evaluated.
b) To carry out a comparison of suppliers, all slag with a minimum length of 1,0 mm are to be evaluated.

The total inclusion length of the test area is determined by adding all inclusion lengths.

Inclusions are basically evaluated from a certain length and width. The length and width is normally specified in the
appropriate guidelines – order documents, quality inspection guidelines.

If such data is not provided, a minimum inclusion length of 1,0 mm and a minimum inclusion width of 20 µm apply.

7.2 Documentation
• Supplier (for raw materials)
• Batch number (for raw materials)
• Material quality
• Original dimension
• Total test area
• Test result (type, position, number, length and width of the individual slag as well as the result calculated from
the total test area and total inclusion length in mm/dm ).
2

Other applicable standards, standards cited and documents

SEP 1580
SEP 1584
SEP 3763

Translated by:
INA Bearing Company Ltd., Sutton Coldfield, Translation Office
The latest German-language version of this standard will always be taken as authoritative.