Comparison of Rolling Contact Fatigue Life of Bearing Steel Rollers Lubricated with Traction Oil and Mineral Oil Corresponding to ISO VG32

Using a low viscosity synthetic traction oil and a low viscosity mineral oil with nearly equal viscosity grade of ISO VG 32, the effect of kind of oil on the fatigue life of bearing steel rollers was examined. A pair of rollers finished the contact surfaces to a mirror-like condition were driven under rolling with sliding conditions of s = -3.2% and a maximum Hertzian stress in the range of $P_H=2.8GPa{\sim}4.0GPa$ was applied in point contact condition. As a result of experiments, the fatigue life with a mineral oil was longer than that with a traction oil under higher stress conditions above $P_H=3.4GPa$. Based on the numerical calculation results of the thermal EHL which simulates the present experiment, the authors discuss the reason why such a difference in the fatigue life comes out.