Through the mechanical method to make the metal surface layer plastic deformation, thus forming a high hardness and high strength of the hardened layer, this surface hardening method known as the surface deformation strengthening, also known as work hardening. Including shot blasting, sand blasting, cold extrusion, rolling, cold rolling and impact, explosive shock reinforcement, etc.. The characteristics of these methods are: strengthen layer dislocation density increased, subgrain structure refinement, so that the hardness and strength improve, surface roughness value decreases, can significantly improve the surface fatigue strength of parts and reduce fatigue notch sensitivity. The strengthening method has simple process and obvious effect, and there is no obvious boundary between the hardening layer and the base layer, and the structure is not easy to fall off in use. Most of the methods have been in high temperature bearing industrial applied: rolling body hit surface strengthening is the application of this kind of method, precision rolling has become new ferrule processing and strengthening methods. High temperature bearing

Using solid phase transformation, the surface layer of the parts is quenched by the method of rapid heating, which is called surface heat treatment. Including flame heating quenching, high (in) frequency induction heating quenching, laser heating or heating and quenching of electron beam, etc.. The characteristics of these methods are surface localized heating and quenching, the deformation of the workpiece is small, fast heating speed, high production efficiency; short heating time, surface oxidation and decarbonization very slight.

The method is particularly effective in improving the wear resistance and fatigue strength of large and extra large bearing parts which are subjected to a certain impact load.

The chemical composition of the surface layer of the metal is changed by the solid diffusion of some kind of element, which is called chemical heat treatment strengthening, and is also called diffusion heat treatment. Including the boriding and infiltration metal, cementite and carbon and nitrogen carburizing, nitriding and nitrocarburizing, infiltrate the sulfur and sulfur, nitrogen and carbon altogether permeability, chromizing, infiltration of aluminum and chromium aluminum silicon aluminizing, graphitization of carburized layer and so on, variety, different characteristics. Infiltration of elements or dissolved into the matrix metal to form a solid solution, or combine with other metal elements to form compounds. In short, infiltration of elements that can change the chemical composition of the surface layer, but also can get a different phase structure. Strengthening treatment is carburizing bearing steel parts processing process and roller bearing cap surface nitriding this kind of strengthening method.

Using the re melting and solidification of the metal in the surface layer of the workpiece to get the desired composition or surface strengthening treatment technology called surface metallurgical strengthening. Including surface autolysis alloy or composite powder coating, surface melting of crystalline or amorphous processing, surface alloying method. Is characterized by rapid heating of high energy density, the surface layer of the metal or coated on metal surface alloying materials melting, then on their own cooling solidification to obtain special structure or of the specific performance of strengthened layer. This particular structure may be a refinement of the crystal structure, and also may be an over saturated phase, metastable phase, or even a non crystal structure, which depends on the surface metallurgy process parameters and methods. Manchuria talent network rolling bearing industry on the work surface of the micro bearing has been done by laser heating and strengthening research, the effect is good.

By using physical or chemical methods, the properties of the metal surface are coated on the base material with different properties. It includes electroplating, electroless plating (chromium, nickel, copper, silver, etc.) and composite plating, brush plating or conversion treatment, but also in recent years, the development of rapid high technology: such as CVD, PVD and p-cvd gas phase deposition strengthening method and ion implantation surface strengthening technology (also known as atomic metallurgical technology and so on. Their common characteristic is that the film can form a specific performance on the working surface, in order to strengthen the surface of the wear resistance, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance and self lubrication and other properties. Such as ion implantation technology to strengthen the working surface of the bearing, the bearing surface wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and resistance to contact fatigue performance have been significantly improved, so that the service life of the bearing grow exponentially.