This study investigates the impact of QPQ (Quench–Polish–Quench) treatment parameters—580 °C and 620 °C, with holding times of 90 min and 120 min—on the microstructure, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of 42CrMo bearing steel. Microstructural evolution was analyzed by OM, SEM, and XRD, while hardness, friction-wear, and electrochemical tests assessed performance. QPQ treatment produced a three-layer surface structure comprising an oxide film, a compound layer rich in Fe₂₋₃N and Cr₂N, and a diffusion layer. At 620 °C for 120 min, the compound layer reached a thickness of 24.01 μm, with a diffusion depth of 377 μm, and the surface hardness increased to 710.9 HV _0.2 . The lowest friction coefficient (0.33) and wear loss were observed for the 620 °C × 90 min sample, whereas the highest corrosion resistance occurred for the 580 °C × 120 min sample (E _corr = − 0.476 V, log ₁₀ (I _corr ) = − 6.242, R _p = 2643 Ω). Temperature exerted a more substantial influence on layer growth and nitrogen diffusion than holding time. However, prolonged treatment at 620 °C resulted in spallation, embrittlement, and porosity, thereby degrading the wear and corrosion performance.

Quench–polish–quench (QPQ) of 40Cr steel was performed to improve its tribological properties and corrosion resistance, thereby enhancing the service performance of components such as gears and bearings. The 40Cr steel was treated by QPQ at 580 °C and 620 °C for 90 or 120 min. Optical microscopy (OM, Sunny Group, Ningbo, China), scanning electron microscopy (SEM, Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan), and X-ray diffraction (XRD Rigaku Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) were used to characterise the microstructure and phase constitution. Ball-on-disk tribometry, electrochemical tests, and salt spray tests in 3.5 wt.% NaCl evaluated surface performance. At 580 °C, a composite structure of Fe₃O₄ and ε-Fe₂₋₃N formed on the surface. When the temperature rose to 620 °C, ε-Fe_2–3N gradually transformed into γ′-Fe₄N. Within the scope of this study, the diffusion layer depth exhibits an approximately linear relationship with increasing processing temperature and holding time, and the surface hardness is 67–112% higher than that of the untreated sample. After QPQ treatment, the wear mechanism changed from adhesive wear to abrasive wear. However, under the treatment conditions of 620 °C × 120 min, brittle surface spalling increased roughness, thereby increasing the coefficient of friction. As treatment time increases, nitrogen atoms continue to diffuse outward as Fe₂N transforms to the γ′ phase. This increases the composite layer’s porosity and decreases its corrosion resistance. The best corrosion resistance was observed at 580 °C for 120 min, with a corrosion potential of −0.4325 V, corrosion current density of 1.80 × 10⁻⁶ A·cm⁻², and polarisation resistance of 24,500 Ω. Corrosion performance depends on overall surface integrity. Porosity morphology strongly influences this property. For 40Cr steel, the results show that surface properties are primarily determined by the quality of the compound layer’s microstructure. Specifically, density, phase-composition stability, and defect control are more important than the commonly held view of layer thickness.