Advantages of low pressure carburising and high pressure gas quenching technology in manufacturing

Abstract

Over the last decade, vacuum carburising in combination with high pressure gas quenching (HPGQ) has become a preferred technology in gear industry mainly in Europe and North America. Driven by cost savings in manufacturing of gears and shafts, the heat treatment process has gone into the focus of the manufacturers. The potential of savings in heat treatment is huge because the new technology allows the integration into the manufacturing chain of gears and shafts. With vacuum heat treatment furnaces is it possible to implement this integration into manufacturing. The advantages of vacuum technology are in particular: the absence of surface oxidation, the cold wall technology, the gas quenching technology, the reduced logistics, flexible reaction on the needs of production and the control of distortion. In parallel to the development of the new heat treat process, a second point came into the focus of manufacturers: the choice of material. The industry recognised that by choosing a slightly higher alloyed material, significant savings in the entire manufacturing chain can be realised: smaller grinding stock, faster carburising cycles, gas quenching with control of distortion, and ultimately the reduction/elimination of grinding- and straightening operations. Vacuum furnaces are flexible in their reaction to the production requirements. Only with these types of heat treatment furnaces is it possible to switch them off after use and save immediately energy and costs. This benefit was essential for the industry in 2008/09 during the world economic crisis. In the past, the automotive industry in Europe and North America mostly ran on conventional pusher type furnaces which must be kept on operating temperature even if only 50% of installed production capacity is needed. The vacuum furnace of type ModulTherm is a multi-chamber system and each chamber can be switched On or Off according to the production plan which finally saves a huge amount of cost for energy. This paper presents the advantages of the vacuum carburising technology with high pressure gas quenching. The author will demonstrate with examples and comparisons the benefits of vacuum technology and the successfully integration of heat treatment in the manufacturing chain.     

Vacuum carburising and high pressure gas quenching technology in automotive industry

Abstract

As the conventional gas carburising furnaces and oil quenching baths used for powertrain parts in the automotive industry have become outmoded, introduction of new equipment and technology is of increasing urgency. Recent demands to improve the mechanical properties of parts and productivity while minimising environmental impact have made vacuum carburising/high pressure gas quenching technology an attractive alternative. However, problems with over carburising and soot in vacuum carburising, and the low cooling ability and high running cost of high pressure gas quenching constitute barriers to adoption of this technology. Attempts to solve these problems by experiments and numerical simulation are reported.     

Plasma carburising: exotic with potential

Abstract

Low pressure carburising in combination with high pressure gas quenching has gained an increasing importance in the case hardening of highly stressed components. With the introduction of acetylene as carburising gas and the further development of the systems engineering, this technology has found broad acceptance in the heat treatment industry. Plasma carburising with methane as process gas was first introduced more than 20 years ago but has only been utilised in a few special cases on an industrial scale. The advantage of this type of low pressure carburising is the opportunity to achieve a partial case hardening by simply mechanical masking of the parts to be treated. The ALD Own & Operate GmbH Companies have a 10 year of practical experience with the partial plasma carburising process in the serial production of automotive and aerospace parts. By means of two examples the plasma processes and furnace equipment as well as the masking and the results of the treatment will be presented. Other possible applications of this heat treatment method will also be given.     

Development of high performance gas carburising furnace

Abstract

We developed a high performance gas carburising furnace (N-BBH) to overcome the inherent disadvantages of gas carburising furnaces. More than 90% reduction in CO₂ emission was achieved using a small amount of carrier gas in the air tight heating chamber and by precise control of the atmosphere during carburising. No conditioning time was required because the air does not enter either the heating chamber or the pre-chamber when opening the furnace. Carburising speed was higher than that of low pressure carburising because of a high carbon transfer coefficient (β) and high carbon potential (CP). Decreasing the oxidation components, such as CO₂, O₂ and H₂O, and using nitrogen gas or atmospheric gas with high CP, reduced intergranular oxidation 50% or more compared with conventional gas carburising.     

工业机器人精密减速器输入轴的真空低压渗碳高压气淬工艺

针对轴齿类零件高温渗碳淬火热处理畸变问题,研究了工业机器人减速器精密轴齿类零件真空低压渗碳和高压气淬工艺。结果表明,在升温阶段采用阶梯式升温保温方式,强渗阶段以乙炔-氮气交替脉冲进行强渗和扩散,淬火冷却阶段精确控制氮气压力1.8 MPa(18 bar)并使之稳定,可使轴齿类零件的总畸变量控制在0.005~0.015 mm。实际生产结果表明,轴齿类零件采用真空低压渗碳和高压气淬技术,渗碳层中的马氏体为1级,残留奥氏体和碳化物为1~2级,心部组织为1~2级。批量生产的减速器精密轴齿表面硬度、心部硬度和有效硬化层深度均值分别为59.7 HRC、38.6 HRC和0.681 mm,全部满足技术要求。     

乙炔真空渗碳AvaC及其应用

本文论述乙炔真空渗碳AvaC的一些基础问题、有效性、过程及控制、高压气淬和这种工艺方法的实际应用。文章最后指出，乙炔真空渗碳是一种符合环境保护要求的能整合进入生产线的表面改性技术。     

乙炔真空渗碳AvaC及其应用(二)

本文论述乙炔真空渗碳AvaC的一些基础问题、有效性、过程及控制、高压气淬和这种工艺方法的实际应用。文章最后指出，乙炔真空渗碳是一种符合环境保护要求的能整合进入生产线的表面改性技术。     

同步器齿套的热处理新方法

本文通过对轿车齿套的试验证明，采用低压真空渗碳 高压气淬的热处理方法，可得到较小的变形，且具有环保、节能、无表面内氧化、生产率高等优点。     

16Cr3NiWMoVNbE钢C型环真空低压渗碳及淬火有限元模拟

通过马氏体转变动力学和碳浓度的扩散系数有限元模型,对16Cr3NiWMoVNbE齿轮钢C型环进行真空低压渗碳淬火的温度场、浓度场、组织场、以及应力场的研究。结果表明,渗碳淬火后,得到碳浓度分布,可以很好地解释表层部分的最终马氏体分布情况,为预测齿轮钢渗碳淬火后碳浓度分布和马氏体分布提供了可靠依据。     

均匀设计法、神经网络和遗传算法结合在内高压成形工艺参数优化中的应用

内高压成形技术是以轻量化和一体化为特征的一种空心变截面轻体构件的先进制造技术。目前,内高压成形技术越来越受到人们的关注,特别是汽车制造企业。管材的内高压成形过程与很多因素有关,其中施加在管件内部的压力与轴向进给量之间的配比关系尤为重要,对两者的匹配关系进行优化是内高压成形面临的重要课题。传统的优化方法需要大量的模拟计算,耗时多且不易掌握。针对这一问题,该文提出了将均匀设计法、神经网络和遗传算法相结合进行参数优化,既利用了均匀设计试验的均匀可靠性,又运用神经网络的非线性映射、网络推理和预测功能,最后发挥遗传算法的全局优化特性,得出了最优结果,并直接为实际生产提供了可靠的参数依据。     

Homogenisation of heat treatment process in high pressure gas quenching

Abstract

High pressure gas quenching has the advantages of pure convective heat transfer, high levels of control, avoidance of cleaning the quenched parts and low environmental impact. However, typical gas quenching facilities exhibit inhomogeneous flow conditions through the quench load and the parts, resulting in scatter in final properties. The upstream flow profile of the load has been identified as a key factor determining local flow conditions and heat transfer. The intensity of the quenching process is determined by the pressure drop that results from the flow resistance of the quench load, although a significant part of the flow passes between the load and the chamber walls and does not contribute to the quenching process. A simulation of the flow inside a commercial high pressure gas quenching chamber was carried out, using a multiscale model to give faster convergence. An experimental analysis of the flow inside a model quenching chamber through velocity measurements and flow visualisation was also performed. Finally, a quenching run with cylindrical parts in a double-chamber vacuum furnace was used to validate the model results. Various upstream velocity profiles were applied to demonstrate their influence on the quenching result. The multiscale simulation approach and the results of the flow process investigation are reported. Guidelines for gas quenching process optimisation are outlined.     

大长径比零件高压气淬温度场数值模拟

针对大长径比零件淬火均匀性和变形控制这一难点问题,采用数值模拟方法研究高压气淬技术对大长径比零件温度场的影响规律。结果表明,气体的淬火压力越大、流速越快、换热能力越强,工件冷却速度越快。采用上下交替吹风的静态交变流型不会对工件的冷速产生明显影响,但有利于改善温度场均匀性,且上下交替吹风时间间隔越短,工件的温度场越均匀。     

真空低压渗碳热处理在重载齿轮上的应用

研究了20CrMnTiH钢同步器齿毂经真空低压渗碳热处理后组织和性能的变化,并与气氛渗碳热处理工艺进行对比。结果表明,真空渗碳热处理后齿面位置处几乎无晶间氧化和非马氏体组织,在晶间氧化的控制上较大幅度优于气氛渗碳热处理工艺;高压气淬在齿毂类零件的热处理畸变控制方面优于油液淬火。     

两种真空高压气淬炉淬火工艺的数值模拟及验证

对管道式和压入式真空高压气淬炉中实施的高压气淬工艺进行了数值模拟和实物验证试验。研究结果表明,在相同的冷却压力下,管道式真空高压气淬炉的冷却速度比压入式真空高压气淬炉快,小型工件更适宜在管道式真空高压气淬炉中进行淬火。     

高压气淬过程的数值模拟

应用有限体积法建立了数学模型,对高压气淬过程中气体的速度场、气体和工件的温度场以及工件内部的组织场进行了耦合计算,针对一组小棒料高压气淬的模拟结果,分析了气体流动、工件温度与相变各自的影响因素以及它们之间的相互影响,指出几何模型准确建立的重要性.另外通过模拟结果与实测冷却曲线的比较,该模型基本反映了高压气淬过程,其中加入相变计算能更符合实际,并且还能预测出工件的最终组织.应用本文中的相变计算模型,相变的计算结果与工件金相照片中的实测结果基本吻合.     

Measurement of arc pressure and shield gas pressure effect on surface of molten pool in TIG welding

Abstract

Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is most frequently used for arc study because it is clean and easy to control welding factor. Many researchers have been focused on the plasma stream to find out the relationship between vertex angle and penetration of the tungsten electrode in TIG welding. Moreover, researchers studied the characteristics of vertex angle and arc pressure and heat flux distribution of the tungsten electrode. In addition, they have carried out factors that have influence on the behaviour of the molten pool. Previous studies assumed that arc pressure was dominant for the force that physically works on the surface of the molten pool, neglecting the shield gas pressure. In addition, they have been focused on the protection of molten weld pool from exposure to the atmosphere. The object of this study is to investigate the effect of shield gas pressure on the surface of the molten pool by measuring the distribution of arc pressure and shield gas pressure compared with arc physical results of previous researches. In this study, we measured the distribution of arc pressure and shield gas pressure on the water cooled copper plate by changing the setting shield gas pressure and shield gas cup inside diameter. As the setting shield gas pressure increased and the shield gas cup diameter decreased, the arc radius got narrower due to the thermal pinch effect. Maximum arc pressure was slightly affected by setting the shield gas pressure and shield gas cup diameter. However, the shield gas pressure on arc surroundings was raised with the increasing setting shield gas pressure and the decreasing gas cup inside diameter. Orbital welding with convex back bead was successfully performed through molten pool control by shield gas pressure adjustment.     

38CrMoAl主驱动齿轮低真空变压气体渗氮

本文介绍了用于钢件气体渗氮或氮碳共渗的WLV-Ⅰ型低真空变压表面处理多用炉的工作原理、结构及特点,并结合38CrMoAl钢主驱动齿轮的生产工艺特点和效果,分析讨论了提高产品质量和优化生产工艺的措施。实际生产使用表明:与普通炉相比,低真空变压热处理工艺装备及技术具有显著的节能、减排、快速、高质量、低成本的特点,是"老三炉"更新换代的理想产品。     

Ti2AlNb结构件高压气淬过程数值模拟

高压气淬过程中,由于冷却速率较大,工件易产生热应力,甚至发生塑性变形或开裂,因此能准确预测高压气淬过程中工件热应力分布对于工业生产尤为重要.本研究运用计算流体力学法建立了交流流动型立式高压气淬炉气淬过程的数值传热和湍流模型,模拟了Ti2AlNb超塑成形/扩散连接空心结构件的气淬过程,并通过间接耦合法得到Ti2AlNb结...     

高压内啮合齿轮泵的测试与分析

基于所构建的液压泵综合试验台,对高压内啮合齿轮泵的排量、功率、流量、效率等性能进行了测试与分析,特别对内啮合齿轮泵在高压下的工作特性进行了测试,分析了其高压下的压力脉动特性,为内啮合齿轮泵的研究提供了依据。     

不同凹模入模角对直齿圆柱齿轮挤压成形的影响

少无切削的挤压生产方法是生产齿轮的一种先进工艺,生产效率高,产品性能好,并且大大节约原材料。本文研究了凹模的入模角对齿轮挤压件质量以及挤压力等各种因素的影响,对实际生产有一定的指导价值。