EP2899292B1 - Procédé de production d'une pièce de machine - Google Patents

Procédé de production d'une pièce de machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2899292B1
EP2899292B1 EP13838097.7A EP13838097A EP2899292B1 EP 2899292 B1 EP2899292 B1 EP 2899292B1 EP 13838097 A EP13838097 A EP 13838097A EP 2899292 B1 EP2899292 B1 EP 2899292B1
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European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nitrogen
gas
heat treatment
machine component
manufacturing
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EP13838097.7A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2899292A1 (fr
EP2899292A4 (fr
Inventor
Takumi Fujita
Kazuhiro Yagita
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NTN Corp
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NTN Corp
NTN Toyo Bearing Co Ltd
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
    • C21D9/40—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for rings; for bearing races
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C8/00—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
    • C23C8/06—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases
    • C23C8/28—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases more than one element being applied in one step
    • C23C8/30—Carbo-nitriding
    • C23C8/32—Carbo-nitriding of ferrous surfaces
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C8/00—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
    • C23C8/06—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases
    • C23C8/08—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases only one element being applied
    • C23C8/24—Nitriding
    • C23C8/26—Nitriding of ferrous surfaces
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/06—Surface hardening
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/18—Hardening; Quenching with or without subsequent tempering
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/74—Methods of treatment in inert gas, controlled atmosphere, vacuum or pulverulent material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
    • C21D9/36—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for balls; for rollers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/001—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing N
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/02—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing silicon
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/04—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing manganese
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/12—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, vanadium, or niobium
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22C—ALLOYS
    • C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
    • C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
    • C22C38/24—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with vanadium
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C8/00—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
    • C23C8/02—Pretreatment of the material to be coated
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C8/00—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
    • C23C8/06—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases
    • C23C8/08—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases only one element being applied
    • C23C8/10—Oxidising
    • C23C8/12—Oxidising using elemental oxygen or ozone
    • C23C8/14—Oxidising of ferrous surfaces
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C8/00—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
    • C23C8/06—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases
    • C23C8/34—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases more than one element being applied in more than one step
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C8/00—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
    • C23C8/80—After-treatment
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23F—NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25
    • C23F17/00—Multi-step processes for surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by subclass C21D or C22F or class C25

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a machine component, more particularly, a method of manufacturing a machine component having a nitrogen-enriched layer at a surface layer.
  • a nitrogen-enriched layer having a high nitrogen concentration as compared to the interior may be formed at the surface layer of the machine component by means of carbonitriding or the like.
  • atmosphere gas is often used, which is based on producing carrier gas by mixing propane, butane or city gas with air at a high temperature greater than or equal to 1000°C (endothermic converted gas; hereinafter, referred to RX gas), having a small amount of propane, butane, and ammonia added.
  • RX gas endothermic converted gas
  • a nitriding response occurs by undecomposed ammonia (for example, refer to " Improvement of Wear Resistance by Heat Treatment for Carburizing Steel” by Nobuyuki Mouri et al., NTN TECHNICAL REVIEW, 2008, No. 76, pp. 17-22 (NPD 1)).
  • NPD 1 " Improvement of Wear Resistance by Heat Treatment for Carburizing Steel” by Nobuyuki Mouri et al., NTN TECHNICAL REVIEW, 2008, No. 76, pp. 17-22
  • Decomposition of ammonia gas generally proceeds as the temperature becomes higher. Therefore, the nitriding process by undecomposed ammonia is not often executed at a temperature region not lower than 900°C. As a result, it was difficult to increase the treatment temperature to shorten the carbonitriding time even in the case of treating a product that requires a thick nitride layer. There was a problem that the processing time is lengthened.
  • the carbonitriding process using ammonia gas also had the problem that the facility maintenance management cost is increased due to the requirement of installing a facility to introduce ammonia gas into the heat treatment furnace and rapid consumption of components employed in the heat treatment furnace (for example, the basket for product transportation).
  • the present invention was made to solve the problems as described above, and an object thereof is to provide a machine component manufacturing method allowing a machine component having a nitrogen enriched layer at a surface layer to be manufactured by rapid heat treatment not using ammonia gas.
  • a method of manufacturing a machine component according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a member made of steel, forming a film containing vanadium at a surface of the member, and forming a nitrogen-enriched layer by heating the member having the film formed in an atmosphere of heat treatment gas containing nitrogen gas and absent of ammonia gas.
  • a member made of steel containing 0.1 mass % or more of vanadium is prepared.
  • the member is heated to and oxidized in a temperature range not lower than 500°C and lower than A 1 transformation point of the steel.
  • a nitrogen-enriched layer is formed at the surface layer of the member even if the atmosphere is absent of ammonia gas, thus conceiving of the present invention.
  • a member made of steel, having a film containing vanadium formed at the surface is heated in an atmosphere including nitrogen gas and absent of ammonia gas, leading to formation of a nitrogen-enriched layer at the surface layer of the machine component.
  • a machine component having a nitrogen-enriched layer at a surface layer can be manufactured by rapid heat treatment not using ammonia gas.
  • a film containing vanadium can readily be formed.
  • phase transformation does not occur during oxidation and change in dimension or deformation due to heat treatment can be suppressed.
  • a mother phase of steel is maintained in a ferrite state in which a solid solubility limit of carbon is low, and occurrence of decarburization can be suppressed.
  • Heat treatment gas absent of ammonia gas implies not including ammonia gas substantially, and does not exclude the mixture of ammonia gas at the impurity level.
  • the member may be forged.
  • a film containing vanadium can be formed efficiently by subjecting the machine component to oxidation in the forging step.
  • the heat treatment gas may include endothermic converted gas. Accordingly, formation of a nitrogen-enriched layer can be achieved while readily adjusting the carbon potential in the atmosphere.
  • the heat treatment gas may be a gas mixture of the nitrogen gas and reducing gas.
  • a nitrogen-enriched layer can be formed with reducing heat treatment gas containing nitrogen which is inexpensive and readily available as a nitrogen supply source. Consequently, cost for heat treatment can be reduced.
  • reducing heat treatment gas containing nitrogen which is inexpensive and readily available as a nitrogen supply source. Consequently, cost for heat treatment can be reduced.
  • hydrogen gas, methane gas, propane gas, butane gas, or carbon monoxide gas can be adopted for the reducing gas.
  • the heat treatment gas may include the nitrogen gas and have an oxygen partial pressure less than or equal to 10 -16 Pa.
  • heat treatment gas containing nitrogen which is inexpensive and readily available as a nitrogen supply source and having oxidizing capability suppressed to a low level can be employed. Consequently, cost for heat treatment can be reduced.
  • the heat treatment gas may include reducing gas so that it has the oxygen partial pressure less than or equal to 10 -16 Pa.
  • the oxygen partial pressure can readily be lowered to 10 -16 Pa or less.
  • the reducing gas may be hydrogen gas.
  • the hydrogen gas which is readily available is suitable as the reducing gas.
  • the method of manufacturing a machine component set forth above may further include the step of quench-hardening the member by cooling the member having a nitrogen-enriched layer formed from a temperature greater than or equal to A 1 transformation point to a temperature less than or equal to M S point. Accordingly, a machine component of high durability, having a nitrogen-enriched layer formed and quench-hardened, can be readily manufactured.
  • the step of forming a nitrogen-enriched layer may be performed such that the member heated to the temperature range is not cooled to a room temperature in the step of forming a film. By doing so, energy required for heat treatment can be lowered and a time period for heat treatment can be shortened.
  • the member in the step of forming a film, may be heated in a heat treatment chamber of an oxidative atmosphere, and in the step of forming a nitrogen-enriched layer, an atmosphere in the heat treatment chamber may be replaced with the heat treatment gas and then the member may be heated in the heat treatment chamber to thereby form the nitrogen-enriched layer.
  • a nitrogen-enriched layer can efficiently be formed on a machine component with the use of a batch furnace.
  • the method of manufacturing a machine component set forth above may further include the step of quench-hardening the member by cooling the member having a nitrogen-enriched layer formed from a temperature greater than or equal to the A 1 transformation point down to a temperature less than or equal to M S point.
  • the film may be formed as the member is oxidized in an oxidation apparatus.
  • the member having the film formed may be conveyed by a conveyance apparatus into a nitrogen-enriched layer formation apparatus connected to the oxidation apparatus with the conveyance apparatus being interposed, and then the nitrogen-enriched layer may be formed in the nitrogen-enriched layer formation apparatus.
  • the member may be quench-hardened in a quenching apparatus connected to the nitrogen-enriched layer formation apparatus.
  • a nitrogen-enriched layer can efficiently be formed on a machine component with the use of a continuous furnace and the machine component can be quench-hardened.
  • the machine component may be a component constituting a rolling bearing.
  • a component such as a bearing ring and a rolling element constituting a rolling bearing is often required to have high fatigue strength and wear resistance. Therefore, the method of manufacturing a machine component of the present invention in which a nitrogen-enriched layer is formed is suitable for a method of manufacturing a component constituting a rolling bearing.
  • a machine component having a nitrogen-enriched layer at a surface layer can be manufactured by rapid heat treatment not using ammonia gas.
  • a steel member preparation step is performed as a step (S10).
  • a steel member that is a member made of steel and formed in substantially the shape of a machine component is prepared.
  • a steel material of AMS2315 that is steel containing vanadium greater than or equal to 0.1 mass % or a steel material having such composition that 0.1 mass % or more of vanadium has been added to SUJ2 complying with JIS is prepared and subjected to working such as forging, turning, and the like to produce a steel member.
  • an oxidation step is performed as a step S20.
  • the steel member prepared at the step (S10) is subjected to oxidation. Specifically, the steel member is heated at a temperature range greater than or equal to 500°C and lower than A 1 transformation point of steel making up the steel member in an oxidative atmosphere such as in the air, whereby the surface layer of the steel member is oxidized.
  • the reaction of vanadium in the steel with carbon in the steel and nitrogen in the atmosphere causes a film containing vanadium to be formed at the surface of the steel member.
  • this film is a V (vanadium)-N (nitrogen) film, a V-C (carbon) film, a V-C-N film, or the like.
  • a carbonitriding step is performed as a step (S30).
  • the steel member subjected to oxidation at the step (S20) is subjected to carbonitriding.
  • the steel member subjected to oxidation at the step (S20) is subjected to carbonitriding.
  • the steel member is heated at a temperature range greater than or equal to A 1 transformation point.
  • ammonia gas is not added to the atmosphere. Accordingly, an amount of carbon at the surface layer of the steel member attains to a value corresponding to carbon potential in the atmosphere.
  • the surface of the steel member has a film containing vanadium formed at the step (S20) and the nitrogen gas in the air is included in the RX gas, nitrogen invades the surface layer of the steel member. As a result, the steel member is carbonitrided, forming a nitrogen-enriched layer at the surface layer of the steel member.
  • a quench-hardening step is performed as a step (S40).
  • the steel member subjected to carbonitriding at the step (S30) is quench-hardened.
  • the steel member subjected to carbonitriding at the temperature range greater than or equal to A 1 transformation point at the step (S30) is quench-hardened by being cooled down to the temperature range less than or equal to M S point from the temperature range greater than or equal to A 1 transformation point. Accordingly, the entire steel member including the nitrogen-enriched layer is quench-hardened, thus providing high fatigue strength and wear resistance to the steel member.
  • a tempering step is performed as a step (S50).
  • the steel member subjected to quench-hardening at the step (S40) is tempered.
  • the steel member subjected to quench-hardening at the step (S40) is heated to a temperature less than or equal to A 1 transformation point, and then cooled for the tempering process.
  • a finishing step is performed as a step (S60).
  • the steel member obtained by performing the steps (S10) to (S50) is subjected to a finishing work to complete a machine component such as a bearing component.
  • the tempered steel member is polished and the like for the completion of a machine component.
  • a steel member having a film containing vanadium formed at the surface is heated in an atmosphere containing nitrogen gas and absent of ammonia gas to manufacture a machine component having a nitrogen-enriched layer.
  • the formation of a nitrogen-enriched layer is not advanced by undecomposed ammonia. Therefore, heat treatment at high temperature is allowed without having to take into account the decomposition of ammonia.
  • the process of forming a nitrogen-enriched layer is performed at high temperature, allowing the period of time for the heat treatment to be shortened.
  • a machine component having a nitrogen-enriched layer at the surface layer can be manufactured by rapid heat treatment not using ammonia gas.
  • a film containing vanadium can readily be formed.
  • phase transformation does not occur during oxidation and change in dimension or deformation due to heat treatment can be suppressed.
  • a mother phase of steel is maintained in a ferrite state in which a solid solubility limit of carbon is low, and occurrence of decarburization can be suppressed.
  • a temperature for oxidation in the step (S20) may be set to 600°C or higher or to 650°C or higher.
  • the heat treatment gas adopted in the step (S30) may be a gas mixture of nitrogen gas and reducing gas.
  • a nitrogen-enriched layer can be formed with reducing heat treatment gas containing nitrogen which is inexpensive and readily available as a nitrogen supply source. Consequently, cost for heat treatment can be reduced.
  • the heat treatment gas adopted in the step (S30) may contain nitrogen gas and may have an oxygen partial pressure less than or equal to 10 -16 Pa.
  • the heat treatment gas may have an oxygen partial pressure less than or equal to 10 -16 Pa by containing reducing gas.
  • reducing gas for example, hydrogen gas can be adopted as the reducing gas.
  • heat treatment gas containing nitrogen which is inexpensive and readily available as a nitrogen supply source and having oxidizing capability suppressed to a low level can be employed. Consequently, cost for heat treatment can be reduced.
  • a batch furnace 1 includes a heat treatment chamber 11, a carrier portion 12 installed on a bottom wall of heat treatment chamber 11, and an inlet port 13 and an exhaust port 14 disposed in a wall surface of the heat treatment chamber.
  • Inlet port 13 can be connected to a gas supply source (not shown) and an atmosphere gas can be supplied into heat treatment chamber 11 through inlet port 13 as the inlet port is connected to a desired gas supply source.
  • Exhaust port 14 can be connected to an exhaust apparatus (not shown) and the atmosphere gas in a heat treatment furnace can be exhausted through exhaust port 14.
  • the steps (S20) to (S40) can be performed as below, with the use of this batch furnace 1.
  • a steel member 90 prepared at the step (S10) is arranged on carrier portion 12 in heat treatment chamber 11. Then, the interior in heat treatment chamber 11 is adjusted to an oxidative atmosphere.
  • gas in heat treatment chamber 11 may be discharged through exhaust port 14 and then oxidative gas may be supplied through inlet port 13, so that the interior in heat treatment chamber 11 is adjusted to an oxidative atmosphere, or the interior in heat treatment chamber 11 may be adjusted to an oxidative atmosphere as inlet port 13 and exhaust port 14 are opened into the air.
  • steel member 90 is heated to and oxidized in a temperature range not lower than 500°C and lower than the A 1 transformation point of steel making up steel member 90.
  • a film containing vanadium is formed in a region including a surface of steel member 90.
  • the step (S30) is performed in succession.
  • the atmosphere in heat treatment chamber 11 is replaced with heat treatment gas.
  • heat treatment gas for example, a gas mixture of nitrogen gas and reducing gas
  • steel member 90 is heated in heat treatment chamber 11, for example, to a temperature range not lower than 750°C and not higher than 1000°C and preferably to a temperature range not lower than 850°C and not higher than 950°C, which are temperature ranges not lower than the A 1 transformation point, so that a nitrogen-enriched layer is formed at the surface layer of steel member 90.
  • steel member 90 may be cooled to a room temperature.
  • the step (S30) is performed successively without cooling steel member 90 to a room temperature, so that energy required for heat treatment can be lowered and a time period for heat treatment can be shortened.
  • step (S40) is performed in succession.
  • steel member 90 having the nitrogen-enriched layer formed is taken out of batch furnace 1 and quench-hardened, for example, by being immersed in an oil bath.
  • a continuous furnace 2 includes an oxidation furnace 21 serving as an oxidation apparatus, a nitriding furnace 22 serving as a nitrogen-enriched layer formation apparatus connected to oxidation furnace 21 with conveyors 24 and 25 serving as a conveyance apparatus being interposed, and a quenching oil bath 23 which serves as a quenching apparatus connected to nitriding furnace 22 and holds a quenching oil.
  • a conveyor 26 carrying out a workpiece in quenching oil bath 23 is disposed.
  • the steps (S20) to (S40) can be performed as below, with the use of this continuous furnace 2.
  • steel member 90 prepared at the step (S10) is placed on conveyor 24.
  • steel member 90 is conveyed by conveyor 24 and enters oxidation furnace 21. Since the interior in oxidation furnace 21 opens, for example, into the air, it is set to an air atmosphere.
  • steel member 90 is heated to and oxidized in a temperature range not lower than 500°C and lower than the A 1 transformation point of steel making up steel member 90.
  • a film containing vanadium is formed in a region including a surface of steel member 90.
  • steel member 90 is conveyed along an arrow ⁇ on conveyors 24 and 25 and enters nitriding furnace 22.
  • steel member 90 may enter nitriding furnace 22 without being cooled to a room temperature.
  • the interior in nitriding furnace 22 is adjusted to an atmosphere of a gas mixture of nitrogen gas and reducing gas, such as an atmosphere of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas as mixed.
  • steel member 90 is heated in nitriding furnace 22 to a temperature range not lower than the A 1 transformation point.
  • a nitrogen-enriched layer is formed at the surface layer of steel member 90.
  • steel member 90 having the nitrogen-enriched layer formed is conveyed on conveyor 25, so that it falls into quenching oil bath 23 along an arrow ⁇ .
  • steel member 90 is rapidly cooled and quench-hardened.
  • quench-hardened steel member 90 is carried out of quenching oil bath 23 on conveyor 26.
  • a second embodiment that is another embodiment of the present invention will now be described r with reference to Fig. 4 .
  • the method of manufacturing a machine component according to the second embodiment is carried out in a manner basically similar to that of the first embodiment. However, the method of manufacturing a machine component of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in including a hot forging step.
  • steel containing vanadium greater than or equal to 0.1 mass % is prepared at the step (S10), likewise with the first embodiment.
  • a steel member is produced by forming to a shape that allows hot forging in a step (S21) that will be described below.
  • a hot forging step is performed as a step (S21).
  • the steel member is hot forged.
  • the steel member is shaped by hot forging in the air, for example.
  • the surface layer of the steel member is oxidized by the oxygen in the air.
  • the reaction of vanadium in the steel with the carbon in the steel and nitrogen in the atmosphere causes formation of a film containing vanadium at the surface of the steel member, specifically a V-N film, a V-C film, a V-C-N film, or the like.
  • step (S20) is skipped, and steps (S30) to (S60) are performed, likewise with the first embodiment, to complete a machine component.
  • oxidation of the steel member is performed taking advantage of the hot forging step in the manufacturing process. Therefore, the method of manufacturing a machine component of the present invention can be carried out while suppressing increase in the manufacturing steps.
  • Fig. 5 shows results of analysis.
  • the abscissa represents a depth (a distance) from a surface and the ordinate represents nitrogen concentration.
  • a thin line corresponds to a sample subjected to oxidation at 950°C and a bold line corresponds to a sample subjected to oxidation at 700°C.
  • a test piece was produced from a steel material (such a steel material that 1.02 mass % of vanadium had been added to SUJ2 complying with JIS) similar to that in Example 1.
  • This test piece was subjected to oxidation as being heated to 700°C in the air, which was a temperature lower than the A 1 transformation point, and thereafter, successively without cooling, the test piece was heated to 950°C and held for 6 hours in a gas mixture atmosphere containing 50 volume % of nitrogen gas and 50 volume % of hydrogen gas. Thereafter, nitrogen concentration distribution at the surface layer of the test piece was examined with the EPMA as in Example 1.
  • Fig. 6 shows results of examination. In Fig. 6 , the abscissa represents a depth (a distance) from a surface and the ordinate represents nitrogen concentration.
  • a nitrogen-enriched layer having sufficient nitrogen concentration distribution is obtained.
  • energy required for heat treatment can be lowered and a time period for heat treatment can be shortened.
  • Such a heat treatment process can be performed, for example, with the use of the batch furnace or the continuous furnace described in the embodiments above.
  • the method of manufacturing a machine component of the present invention can particularly be applied advantageously to the method of manufacturing a machine component having a nitrogen-enriched layer at the surface layer.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Solid-Phase Diffusion Into Metallic Material Surfaces (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Articles (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine comprenant les étapes de :
    préparation d'un élément en acier ;
    formation d'un film contenant du vanadium au niveau d'une surface dudit élément ; et
    formation d'une couche enrichie en azote en chauffant ledit élément ayant ledit film formé dans une atmosphère de gaz de traitement thermique contenant de l'azote gazeux et dépourvu d'ammoniac gazeux,
    à ladite étape de préparation d'un élément, un élément en acier contenant 0,1 % en masse ou plus de vanadium étant préparé, et
    à ladite étape de formation d'un film, ledit élément étant chauffé jusqu'à et oxydé dans une plage de températures non inférieures à 500 °C et inférieure au point de transformation A1 dudit acier.
  2. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon la revendication 1, dans lequel
    ledit gaz de traitement thermique comporte un gaz transformé endothermique.
  3. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon la revendication 1, dans lequel
    ledit gaz de traitement thermique est un mélange de gaz de l'azote gazeux et de gaz réducteur.
  4. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon la revendication 1, dans lequel
    ledit gaz de traitement thermique comporte l'hydrogène gazeux et a une pression partielle d'oxygène inférieure ou égale à 10-16 Pa.
  5. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon la revendication 4, dans lequel
    ledit gaz de traitement thermique comporte un gaz réducteur de façon à avoir la pression partielle d'oxygène inférieure ou égale à 10-16 Pa.
  6. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon la revendication 5, dans lequel
    ledit gaz réducteur est de l'hydrogène gazeux.
  7. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel
    ladite étape de formation d'une couche enrichie en azote est réalisée de sorte que ledit élément chauffé jusqu'à ladite plage de température ne soit pas refroidi jusqu'à une température ambiante à ladite étape de formation d'un film.
  8. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel,
    à ladite étape de formation d'un film, ledit élément est chauffé dans une chambre de traitement thermique d'une atmosphère oxydative, et
    à ladite étape de formation d'une couche enrichie en azote, une atmosphère dans ladite chambre de traitement thermique est remplacée par ledit gaz de traitement thermique puis ledit élément est chauffé dans ladite chambre de traitement thermique pour former ainsi la couche enrichie en azote.
  9. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, comprenant en outre l'étape de durcissement par trempe dudit élément en refroidissant ledit élément ayant une couche enrichie en azote formée depuis une température supérieure ou égale au point de transformation A1 jusqu'à une température inférieure ou égale au point Ms, dans lequel,
    à ladite étape de formation d'un film, ledit film est formé lorsque ledit élément est oxydé dans un appareil d'oxydation,
    à ladite étape de formation d'une couche enrichie en azote, ledit élément ayant ledit film formé est transporté par un appareil de transport dans un appareil de formation de couche enrichie en azote raccordé audit appareil d'oxydation, ledit appareil de transport étant interposé puis ladite couche enrichie en azote est formée dans ledit appareil de formation de couche enrichie en azote, et
    à ladite étape de durcissement par trempe dudit élément, ledit élément est durci par trempe dans un appareil de trempe raccordé audit appareil de formation de couche enrichie en azote.
  10. Procédé de fabrication d'une pièce de machine selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel
    ladite pièce de machine est une pièce constituant un roulement.
EP13838097.7A 2012-09-19 2013-09-12 Procédé de production d'une pièce de machine Not-in-force EP2899292B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2012205627A JP6071365B2 (ja) 2012-09-19 2012-09-19 機械部品の製造方法
PCT/JP2013/074671 WO2014046001A1 (fr) 2012-09-19 2013-09-12 Procédé de production d'une pièce de machine

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EP2899292A1 EP2899292A1 (fr) 2015-07-29
EP2899292A4 EP2899292A4 (fr) 2016-04-27
EP2899292B1 true EP2899292B1 (fr) 2017-06-14

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JP2018044197A (ja) * 2016-09-13 2018-03-22 株式会社ジェイテクト 鋼部材及びその製造方法

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JPS60165370A (ja) * 1984-02-07 1985-08-28 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Ind Co Ltd ステンレス鋼の窒化処理方法
JPS6160875A (ja) * 1984-08-31 1986-03-28 Hitachi Ltd タ−ビン材料の製造方法
DE4110114A1 (de) * 1990-03-27 1991-10-02 Mazda Motor Vorrichtung zum waermebehandeln von stahlteilen
JP3128803B2 (ja) * 1990-04-27 2001-01-29 日本精工株式会社 転がり軸受
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JP3750202B2 (ja) * 1996-02-21 2006-03-01 日本精工株式会社 転がり軸受
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JP2002060847A (ja) * 2000-08-22 2002-02-28 Ntn Corp 耐熱浸炭転がり軸受部品およびその製造方法
US7829194B2 (en) * 2003-03-31 2010-11-09 Ut-Battelle, Llc Iron-based alloy and nitridation treatment for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates
JP4629064B2 (ja) * 2007-03-23 2011-02-09 本田技研工業株式会社 浸炭部品の製造方法
ITVE20070056A1 (it) * 2007-08-06 2009-02-07 Sae Impianti S R L Piastra bipolare per celle a combustibile a membrana polimerica (pem).-
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JP5927018B2 (ja) * 2011-04-26 2016-05-25 Ntn株式会社 機械部品の製造方法

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Publication number Publication date
EP2899292A1 (fr) 2015-07-29
EP2899292A4 (fr) 2016-04-27
JP6071365B2 (ja) 2017-02-01
WO2014046001A1 (fr) 2014-03-27
CN104641015A (zh) 2015-05-20
JP2014058729A (ja) 2014-04-03
US20150240342A1 (en) 2015-08-27

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