IP Library Granted Patent US 8,430,974
Granted Patent B2
US 8,430,974 · App. 11/919,068 · Granted Apr 30, 2013

Carburized and induction-hardened component

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,430,974
App. No.
11/919,068
Granted
Apr 30, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A steel component formed by carburizing and then induction-hardening of a steel consisting essentially of, by mass, C: minimum 0.08% and less than 0.3%; Si: maximum 2.0%; Mn: from 0.2% to 3.0%; P: maximum 0.03%; S: from 0.005% to 0.05%; Ni: maximum 1.5%; Cr: maximum 3.0%; Mo: maximum 1.0%; O: maximum 0.0025%; and N: from 0.005% to 0.03%; and further including either or both of, by mass, Al: from 0.005% to 0.05%, and Ti: from 0.005% to 0.05%; and still further including either or both of, by mass, V: maximum 0.3%, and Nb: maximum 0.3%; and a balance including Fe and unavoidable impurities. The hardness of the surface layer is at least 55 HRC and the hardness of the core portion is from 20 to 50 HRC. The core portion does not include a martensite structure.

Claims (49)

1. A carburized and induction-hardened component formed by carburizing and then induction-hardening a steel consisting essentially of, by mass:

C: minimum 0.08% and under 0.3%;

Si: 0.0% to 2.0%;

Mn: from 1.3% to 3.0%;

P: maximum 0.03%;

S: from 0.005% to 0.05%;

Cr: 0.0% to 3.0%;

Mo: 0.0% to 1.0%;

O: maximum 0.0025%; and

N: from 0.005% to 0.03%; and

further comprising either or both of, by mass,

Al: from 0.005% to 0.05%, and

Ti: from 0.005% to 0.05%; and

still further comprising either or both of, by mass,

V: from 0.01% to 0.3%, and

Nb: from 0.01% to 0.3%; and

a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities,

the carburized and induction-hardened component having a surface layer with hardness of at least 55 HRC and a core portion with a hardness of from 20 to 50 HRC, wherein the core portion does not have a martensite structure and wherein the core portion has an area ratio of a bainite structure in cross section of at least 70%.

2. A carburized and induction-hardened component formed by carburizing and then induction-hardening a steel consisting essentially of, by mass:

C: minimum 0.2% and under 0.3%;

Si: from 0.2% to 0.6%;

Mn: from 1.4% to 2.0%;

P: 0.0% to 0.03%;

S: from 0.01% to 0.02%;

Cr: from 0.2% to 0.6%;

Mo: 0.0% to 0.4%;

O: 0.0% to 0.0025%;

N: from 0.005% to 0.02%;

Al: from 0.005% to 0.05%;

V: from 0.05% to 0.25%; and

a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities,

the carburized and induction-hardened component having a surface layer with hardness of at least 55 HRC and a core portion with a hardness of from 20 to 50 HRC, wherein the core portion does not have a martensite structure and wherein the core portion has an area ratio of a bainite structure in cross section of at least 70%.

3. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 2 , wherein Si is from 0.4% to 0.6%; Cr is from 0.4% to 0.6%; and Mo is 0.0% to of 0.1% (including 0%).

4. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 2 , wherein Si is from 0.4% to 0.6%; Cr is from 0.4% to 0.6%; and Mo is from 0.3 to 0.4%.

5. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 1 , wherein the steel chemical further consists essentially of at least one element selected from the group consisting of: Ca: maximum 0.01% by mass; Mg: maximum 0.01% by mass; Zr: maximum 0.05% by mass; and Te: maximum 0.1% by mass.

6. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of carbon in the surface layer is from 0.5 to 1.5% by mass.

7. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 1 having a carburized layer and an induction-hardened layer having a depth that is from 0.3 to 2.0 times the depth of the carburized layer.

8. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 7 having a surface area ratio of residual austenite in the induction-hardened layer of no greater than 20%.

9. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 1 having a surface grain boundary oxidation depth of no greater than 3 Cm.

10. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 1 , wherein the carburized and induction-hardened component is formed by shot peening after the induction-hardening.

11. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 1 , wherein the carburized and induction-hardened component is a gear.

12. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 2 , wherein the steel further consists essentially of at least one element selected from the group consisting of: Ca: maximum 0.01% by mass; Mg: maximum 0.01% by mass; Zr: maximum 0.05% by mass; and Te: maximum 0.1% by mass.

13. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 2 , wherein the amount of carbon in the surface layer is from 0.5 to 1.5% by mass.

14. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 2 having a carburized layer and an induction-hardened layer having a depth that is from 0.3 to 2.0 times the depth of the carburized layer.

15. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 14 having a surface area ratio of residual austenite in the induction-hardened layer is no greater than 20%.

16. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 2 having a surface grain boundary oxidation depth of no greater than 3 cm.

17. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 2 , wherein the carburized and induction-hardened component is formed by shot peening after the induction-hardening.

18. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 1 , wherein Mn is 1.84-3.0% by mass.

19. The carburized and induction-hardened component according to claim 2 , wherein Mn is 1.84-2.0% by mass.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 14, 2019
From: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
To: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049257/0828 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2013
From: TANIGUCHI, TAKAO; SHIRAI, HISAO; OHBAYASHI, KOUJI; OKADA, KAZUAKI; KANISAWA, HIDEO; KOZAWA, SHUJI
To: AISIN AW CO., LTD; NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION MURORAN WORKS
Reel/Frame 030032/0764 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 16, 2013
From: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
To: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029822/0654 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2009
From: TANIGUCHI, TAKAO; SHIRAI, HISAO; OHBAYASHI, KOUJI; OKADA, KAZUAKI; KANISAWA, HIDEO; KOZAWA, SHUJI
To: AISIN AW CO., LTD.; NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION MURORAN WORKS
Reel/Frame 023109/0509 →