Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Heat treatment of cold formed steel forgings for the automotive industry

2007; Index Copernicus International S.A.; Volume: 22; Linguagem: Inglês

2300-892X

Borut Kosec, Matja Brezigar, Gorazd Kosec, Jure Bernetič, M. Bizjak, Abstr Act,

Metallurgy and Material Forming

Purpose: In the Slovenian company ISKRA Avtoelektrika they manufacture, with the processes of cold forming, a great number of a different steel forgings for the Slovenian and European automotive industry. During their exploitation they are exposed to the high mechanical and temperature loads. Design/methodology/approach: A gas furnaces and devices play important role in the heat treatments of various metal parts for the automotive industry. Their thermotechnical characteristics have a great influence on the product quality and costs. The basic aim of our investigation work is to present the optimization of a device with emphasis on continuous control of working temperature. Findings: The efficiency and quality of the treatment were analysed with the use of: chemical analysis, hardness measurements, measurements of carbon and sulphur content in the surface layer, and metallographic examination methods. Research limitations/implications: For economical production of cold formed steel forgings for the automotive industry it is important that they have a long working life. The corresponding mechanical and thermal properties of the steel forgings are achieved by a heat treatment. Practical implications: As a practical example is presented an optimisation of the heat treatment procedure for typical cold formed steel forging for the automotive industry from the ISKRA Avtoelektrika production program. The practical result of the used heat treatment are the cold formed steel pinions with the surface hardness of approximately 65 HRC, and the case hardened depth of the surface layer approximately 0.7 mm. Originality/value: On the basis of the results of our technical investigation work and corresponding economical studies, the second device (of the same producer, type and capacity) for the heat treatment was installed at the end of last year.