WO2011155605A1 - High-machinability high-strength steel and manufacturing method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosed high-strength steel has the following properties: (a) said steel contains specific amounts of carbon, silicon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, aluminum, boron, nitrogen, and oxygen; (b) the relationship between the aluminum content and the nitrogen content satisfies relation (1); (c) if the carbon content is less than 0.35% and no less than 0.20%, the structure of the disclosed steel is a mixture of ferrite, pearlite, and bainite, with the area ratio of the bainite (f(B)) satisfying relation (2); and (d) if the carbon content is between 0.35% and 0.70% inclusive, the structure of the disclosed steel either is a mixture of ferrite and pearlite or also includes bainite with an area ratio (f(B)) satisfying relation (3). (1) 0.10 < [Al] - 1.9×[N] (2) -60×[C] + 21 < f(B) < -60×[C] + 50 (3) 0 ≤ f(B) < -60×[C] + 50

Description

High-strength steel with excellent machinability and method for producing the same

The present invention relates to steel for manufacturing steel parts by cutting and a method for manufacturing the same.

Steel parts used in automobiles and various machines (specifically, gears, shafts, pulleys, constant velocity joints, etc. used in various gear transmissions including transmissions and differentials for automobiles, as well as cranks) Machine structural parts such as shafts and connecting rods are usually manufactured by subjecting hot-worked steel (for example, hot rolling or hot forging) to a final shape (part shape) by cutting. This steel part is required to have high strength, but in order to increase the strength of the steel part, if the strength of the steel before cutting is increased, cutting becomes difficult. Since the cost required for cutting is high in the entire part production cost, the steel before cutting is required to have good machinability. Therefore, the steel before cutting improves the machinability by reducing its hardness, and increases the strength of steel parts by performing heat treatment such as quenching and tempering (tempering) and carburizing and quenching after cutting. Has been done.

Here, the cutting process will be described in detail. In the cutting process for manufacturing gears among the above-mentioned mechanical structural parts, it is common to perform gear cutting with a hob. In this case, the cutting process is called intermittent cutting. It is. As a tool used for hobbing, a high-speed tool steel coated with AlTiN or the like (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “high-speed tool”) is the current mainstream. However, gear cutting by hobbing (intermittent cutting) using a high-speed tool is low speed (specifically, cutting speed of about 150 m / min or less) and low temperature (specifically, about 200 to 600 ° C.) Because of the intermittent cutting, the tool can easily come into contact with air and be easily oxidized and worn. For this reason, steel used for intermittent cutting such as hobbing is particularly required to extend the tool life.

The applicant has proposed steels for machine structural use with improved machinability (particularly, tool life) in interrupted cutting in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Among these, in patent document 1, the machinability in intermittent cutting with a high-speed tool is improved by appropriately adjusting each component of the oxide inclusions so that the entire inclusion is easily deformed at a low melting point. Yes. On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, by adding an element that has a greater tendency to oxidize than Fe to solid solution, the mechanical structure steel is prevented from being rapidly oxidized during intermittent cutting, and oxidative wear of the tool is prevented. Suppresses and improves the machinability of steel. However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, as described above, in order to increase the strength of the steel part, it is necessary to perform heat treatment such as quenching and tempering (tempering) or carburizing and quenching after cutting.

Incidentally, in recent years, in order to reduce the burden on the global environment and improve the working environment, it is required to omit heat treatments such as quenching and tempering (tempering) and carburizing and quenching. However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, if the heat treatment after cutting is omitted, the strength of the steel part is lowered.

Patent Documents 3 and 4 are known as techniques for increasing the strength of non-heat treated steel. Among these, in Patent Document 3, the strength of non-tempered steel is increased by making the structure after hot forging and cooling be bainite or a mixed structure of bainite and martensite that does not contain pro-eutectoid ferrite. In this document, in order to obtain the above mixed structure, the critical cooling rate Vc calculated based on the composition of steel is an average cooling rate at 800 to 500 ° C. in air cooling or blast cooling performed after hot forging. The component composition of the steel is adjusted so as to be Va or less (Vc ≦ Va). However, this technique improves the strength and toughness of non-tempered steel, and no consideration is given to machinability (particularly machinability when intermittently cut).

On the other hand, Patent Document 4 discloses a technique for increasing the strength of non-heat treated steel and improving fatigue strength and machinability. This non-tempered steel contains 0.0005 to 0.050% of Al, and the structure ratio f of bainite is 1.4C + 0.4 ≧ f ≧ 1.4C with respect to the amount of C contained in the steel. There is a feature.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-30160 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-287111 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-299285 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-109545

The present invention has been made paying attention to such circumstances, and the purpose thereof is to cut steel parts into steel parts without cutting and tempering (tempering) or carburizing and quenching. An object of the present invention is to provide a high-strength steel that can ensure the required strength and is excellent in machinability at the time of cutting, and a method for producing the same.

The high-strength steel according to the present invention has C: 0.20 to 0.70% (meaning mass%, the same applies hereinafter), Si: 0.03 to 2%, Mn: 0.2 to 1.8%, P: 0.03% or less (not including 0%), S: 0.10% or less (not including 0%), Al: 0.12 to 0.5%, B: 0.0005 to 0.008 %, N: 0.002 to 0.030%, and O: 0.002% or less (not including 0%), Al and N satisfy the relationship of the following formula (1), and the balance is Steel made of iron and inevitable impurities. When the amount of C contained in the steel is 0.20% or more and less than 0.35%, the metal structure is a mixed structure of ferrite, pearlite, and bainite, and the area ratio f (B) of bainite is When the following formula (2) is satisfied and the C content is 0.35% or more and 0.70% or less, the metal structure is a mixed structure of ferrite and pearlite, or a mixed structure containing bainite. In addition, the gist of the present invention is that the area ratio f (B) of bainite satisfies the following formula (3). In the following formulas (1) to (3), [] indicates the content (% by mass) of each element.
0.10 <[Al] -1.9 × [N] (1)
−60 × [C] +21 <f (B) <− 60 × [C] +50 (2)
0 ≦ f (B) <− 60 × [C] +50 (3)

The high-strength steel of the present invention is still another element,
(A) Cr: 1.5% or less (excluding 0%),
(B) Mo: 1% or less (excluding 0%),
(C) Ti: 0.005% or less (not including 0%), Zr: 0.02% or less (not including 0%), Hf: 0.02% or less (not including 0%), Ta: At least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.02% or less (excluding 0%) and Nb: 0.15% or less (not including 0%);
(D) V: 0.5% or less (excluding 0%), Cu: 3% or less (not including 0%), and Ni: 3% or less (not including 0%) It may contain at least one element.

The present invention also includes a steel part formed of the above-described high-strength steel, and the metal structure of the steel part is the same as the high-strength steel used.

In the high-strength steel of the present invention, after processing a steel satisfying the above component composition at a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher, the temperature range from 800 ° C. to 500 ° C. is cooled at an average cooling rate Va satisfying the following formula (4). Can be manufactured.
0.1 × Vc <Va <0.9 × Vc (4)

In the above formula (4), Vc is represented by the following formula (5), and k is represented by the following formula (6). In addition, in following formula (6), [] has shown content (mass%) of each element.
Vc = 10 ^k (5)
k = 4.05- {4.5 × [C] + [Mn] + 0.5 × [Ni] + 0.8 × [Cr] + 1.6 × [Mo] + 9.0 × [Nb]} (6)

The steel part of the present invention can be manufactured by cutting the high-strength steel obtained by the above-described manufacturing method without heating to a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher.

According to the present invention, the high-strength steel excellent in machinability by prescribing the component composition of the steel and appropriately controlling the area ratio of bainite contained in the metal structure according to the amount of C contained in the steel. Can provide. That is, the high-strength steel of the present invention has good machinability when it is cut, in particular, the tool life when it is cut intermittently, and the steel part formed by cutting is still in the state of cutting. Since the strength required for steel parts can be secured, heat treatment such as quenching and tempering (tempering) and carburizing and quenching after cutting can be omitted.

The present inventors have repeatedly studied to provide high-strength steel that has good machinability at the time of cutting and that can ensure the strength required as a steel part in a state of being cut into a part shape. It was. As a result, after appropriately adjusting the component composition of the steel, the metal structure is appropriately controlled according to the amount of C contained in the steel. Specifically, the amount of C is 0.20% or more and less than 0.35%. Is a mixed structure of ferrite, pearlite and bainite, and when the C content is 0.35% or more and 0.70% or less, it is a mixed structure of ferrite and pearlite, or a mixed structure containing bainite. And the steel which combines machinability and intensity | strength can be provided by controlling appropriately the area ratio of the bainite which occupies for a mixed structure, and completed this invention. *

That is, the present inventors considered that if the steel metal structure is a mixed structure of ferrite and pearlite, the machinability when cutting (particularly, the tool life when cutting intermittently) can be improved. However, it has been found that if the metal structure of steel is a mixed structure of ferrite and pearlite, the strength of the steel may decrease, and the strength required for steel parts may not be ensured. Thus, in order to increase the strength, bainite may be contained in the mixed structure, and if the area ratio of bainite is controlled in accordance with the C content of steel, it is found that the strength can be improved without degrading the machinability. It was.

Specifically, when the amount of C contained in the steel is 0.20% or more and less than 0.35%, the metal structure is a mixed structure of ferrite, pearlite, and bainite, and the area ratio f (B) of bainite. It is important to adjust so as to satisfy the following formula (2). In the following formula (2), [C] indicates the amount of C (% by mass) contained in the steel.
−60 × [C] +21 <f (B) <− 60 × [C] +50 (2)

When the area ratio f (B) is “−60 × [C] +21” or less, the amount of bainite is too small, and the strength of the steel cannot be secured. Accordingly, the area ratio f (B) is more than “−60 × [C] +21”, preferably “−60 × [C] +25” or more, more preferably “−60 × [C] +30” or more. However, if the area ratio f (B) is “−60 × [C] +50” or more, the strength of the steel becomes too high and the machinability deteriorates. Therefore, the area ratio f (B) is less than “−60 × [C] +50”, preferably “−60 × [C] +45” or less, more preferably “−60 × [C] +40” or less.

On the other hand, when the amount of C contained in the steel is 0.35% or more and 0.70% or less, the strength required for steel parts can be ensured even with a mixed structure of ferrite and pearlite, so bainite is not necessarily generated. You don't have to. However, bainite may be included in order to further increase the strength. That is, when the amount of C contained in the steel is in the above range, the metal structure may be a mixed structure of ferrite and pearlite, or a mixed structure containing bainite.

At this time, the area ratio f (B) of bainite is adjusted so as to satisfy the following formula (3). In the following formula (3), [C] indicates the amount of C (% by mass) contained in the steel.
0 ≦ f (B) <− 60 × [C] +50 (3)

The area ratio f (B) may be 0 area%, but in order to further increase the strength, it is preferably “−60 × [C] +5” or more, more preferably “−60 × [C] +10” or more. . However, when the area ratio f (B) becomes “−60 × [C] +50” or more, as described above, the strength of the steel becomes too high and the machinability deteriorates instead. Accordingly, the area ratio f (B) is less than “−60 × [C] +50”, preferably “−60 × [C] +45” or less, more preferably “−60 × [C] +40” or less.

The area ratio f (B) of bainite may be measured by observing with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) or an optical microscope after repeller corrosion.

In Patent Document 4, the machinability of non-tempered steel is improved by positively generating bainite as the amount of C increases, whereas in the present invention, the case of low C In this case, bainite is produced as an essential structure, and in the case of high C, bainite is not made an essential structure. Thus, although the technical idea of the said patent document 4 and this invention is completely reverse, the said patent document 4 and this invention differ in the component composition (specifically Al amount) of steel. Moreover, the present invention is different in that pearlite is an essential organization, and it is considered that such a difference is a difference in technical idea.

A metal structure that satisfies the above requirements can be manufactured by appropriately controlling the average cooling rate Va when passing through a temperature range from 800 ° C. to 500 ° C. after processing at a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher. The method for controlling the metal structure will be described in detail later.

The high-strength steel of the present invention has its metal structure controlled as described above, and the composition of the steel is as follows.

The high-strength steel of the present invention contains 0.12 to 0.5% Al, 0.0005 to 0.008% B, 0.002 to 0.030% N, and Al and N are represented by the following formula ( Satisfies 1). Al, B, and N are all elements that contribute to improving the machinability of steel (particularly, the tool life when cut intermittently). In the following formula (1), [] indicates the content (% by mass) of each element.
0.10 <[Al] -1.9 × [N] (1)

[Al: 0.12 to 0.5%]
Al is an element necessary for improving the machinability when intermittent cutting is performed by suppressing the wear on the tool surface by being present in a solid solution state in steel. Further, Al is an element that binds to N and precipitates AlN to prevent the crystal grains from growing abnormally during processing and lowering the strength. Al also acts as a deoxidizer. In order to exert such an effect, Al is made 0.12% or more, preferably 0.16% or more, more preferably 0.20% or more. However, when Al is excessive, a large amount of AlN precipitates and the workability is lowered. Therefore, Al is 0.5% or less, preferably 0.4% or less, more preferably 0.3% or less.

[B: 0.0005 to 0.008%]
B is an element that contributes to improving the machinability when securing the solid solution amount of Al and performing intermittent cutting. That is, B binds to N in steel and precipitates BN, thereby suppressing N from binding to Al and precipitating AlN, and thus acts to secure a solid solution Al amount. Further, the precipitated BN contributes to improvement of machinability. B is an element that also acts to improve the hardenability and grain boundary strength to increase the strength of the steel. In order to exert such effects, B is 0.0005% or more, preferably 0.0010% or more, more preferably 0.0025% or more. However, if B is excessive, the steel becomes too hard and the machinability deteriorates. Therefore, B is 0.008% or less, preferably 0.005% or less, more preferably 0.0040% or less.

[N: 0.002 to 0.030%]
N is an element that precipitates AlN and prevents crystal grains from growing abnormally during processing to lower the strength, and contributes to improving the machinability by depositing BN. In order to exert such an effect, N is 0.002% or more, preferably 0.003% or more, more preferably 0.005% or more. However, when N is excessive, a large amount of AlN precipitates and the workability is lowered. Therefore, N is 0.030% or less, preferably 0.020% or less, more preferably 0.015% or less, and particularly preferably 0.010% or less.

The Al and N must satisfy the above formula (1), and by satisfying this formula, Al can be present in a solid solution state. The value of “[Al] −1.9 × [N]” is preferably 0.15 or more, more preferably 0.18 or more.

Component composition other than Al, B, and N is as follows.

[C: 0.20 to 0.70%]
C is an element necessary for ensuring strength, and is contained by 0.20% or more. C is preferably 0.30% or more, and more preferably 0.40% or more. However, if the amount of C is excessive, the steel becomes too hard and the machinability and toughness deteriorate. Therefore, the C content is 0.70% or less. The amount of C is preferably 0.60% or less, more preferably 0.55% or less.

[Si: 0.03 to 2%]
Si acts as a deoxidizing element and is an element necessary for improving the internal quality of steel. Si is 0.03% or more, preferably 0.10% or more, more preferably 0.20% or more. However, when the amount of Si becomes excessive, an abnormal structure is generated during processing at a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher, and the workability at this time deteriorates. Therefore, Si is 2% or less, preferably 1.5% or less, more preferably 1.0% or less, and still more preferably 0.7% or less.

[Mn: 0.2 to 1.8%]
Mn is an element necessary for improving the hardenability and improving the strength of the steel, and is 0.2% or more, preferably 0.5% or more, more preferably 0.90% or more. However, when Mn is excessive, the hardenability is excessively improved and bainite is excessively generated or martensite is easily generated, and the machinability is lowered. Therefore, Mn is 1.8% or less, preferably 1.5% or less, more preferably 1.10% or less.

[P: 0.03% or less (excluding 0%)]
P is an impurity element that is inevitably contained in steel, and if the amount of P is excessive, it promotes the occurrence of cracks during processing, so it needs to be reduced as much as possible. Therefore, P is 0.03% or less, preferably 0.02% or less, more preferably 0.015% or less. In addition, it is industrially difficult to make P amount 0%.

[S: 0.10% or less (excluding 0%)]
S is an element that effectively acts to improve the machinability of steel by combining with Mn in steel to form MnS inclusions. However, if the amount of S becomes excessive, the amount of MnS inclusions increases, and the inclusions extend in the processing direction during processing (for example, hot rolling or hot forging), so the toughness in the direction perpendicular to the processing direction. (Train toughness) will be deteriorated. Therefore, the S content is 0.10% or less, preferably 0.08% or less, more preferably 0.05% or less. In addition, since S is an impurity inevitably contained in steel, it is industrially difficult to make the amount 0%.

[O: 0.002% or less (excluding 0%)]
O is an impurity element inevitably contained in steel, and when the amount of O is excessive, coarse oxide inclusions are generated, and hot workability, ductility, toughness, and machinability deteriorate. Therefore, the O content is 0.002% or less, preferably 0.0018% or less, more preferably 0.0015% or less.

The component composition of the high-strength steel according to the present invention is as described above, and the balance is iron and inevitable impurities. As inevitable impurities, mixing of trace elements (for example, As, Sb, Sn, etc.) brought in depending on the situation of raw materials, materials, manufacturing equipment, etc. is allowed.

Further, Cr, Mo, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Nb, V, Cu, Ni, etc. may be positively contained as other elements within the range not impairing the effects of the present invention.

[Cr: 1.5% or less (excluding 0%)]
Cr is an element that effectively acts to enhance the hardenability of the steel and improve the strength. Moreover, it is an element which acts effectively also for improving the machinability (especially intermittent machinability) of steel by combined addition with Al. In order to exert such an effect, Cr is preferably contained in an amount of 0.08% or more, more preferably 0.10% or more, still more preferably 0.2% or more, and particularly preferably 0.7% or more. However, if the amount of Cr is excessive, coarse carbides are generated, or a supercooled structure is generated and the machinability is deteriorated, so the Cr amount is preferably 1.5% or less, more preferably. Is 1.3% or less.

[Mo: 1% or less (excluding 0%)]
Mo is an element that acts to increase the hardenability of steel and suppress the formation of a structure that has not been quenched. Such an action increases as the content increases, but is preferably 0.05% or more, more preferably 0.1% or more, and further preferably 0.15% or more. However, when Mo is excessively contained, a supercooled structure is generated even after normalization and machinability is lowered, so that the content is preferably 1% or less. More preferably, it is 0.8% or less, More preferably, it is 0.5% or less.

[Ti: 0.005% or less (not including 0%), Zr: 0.02% or less (not including 0%), Hf: 0.02% or less (not including 0%), Ta: 0.0. 02% or less (not including 0%), and Nb: at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.15% or less (not including 0%)]
Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, and Nb are elements that have an effect of preventing abnormal growth of crystal grains during hot working and preventing toughness and fatigue strength of steel from being lowered. Such an effect is exhibited by containing two or more kinds selected arbitrarily. These effects increase as the content increases, but Ti is 0.0003% or more (particularly 0.0005% or more), Zr is 0.002% or more (particularly 0.005% or more), and Hf is 0. 0.002% or more (especially 0.005% or more), Ta is preferably 0.002% or more (particularly 0.005% or more), and Nb is preferably 0.015% or more (particularly 0.05% or more). However, if these elements are contained excessively, hard carbides are generated and the machinability of the steel is lowered, so that Ti is 0.005% or less (particularly 0.003% or less) and Zr is 0.02 or less. % Or less (particularly 0.015% or less), Hf is 0.02% or less (particularly 0.015% or less), Ta is 0.02% or less (particularly 0.015% or less), and Nb is 0.15% or less. (Especially 0.14% or less) is preferable.

[V: at least 1 selected from the group consisting of 0.5% or less (not including 0%), Cu: 3% or less (not including 0%), and Ni: 3% or less (not including 0%) Species element]
V, Cu, and Ni are elements that effectively act to improve the hardenability and increase the strength. These effects increase as the content of these elements increases. However, in order to effectively exhibit them, V is 0.05% or more, Cu is 0.1% or more, and Ni is 0.1% or more. It is preferable. More preferably, V is 0.1% or more, Cu is 0.2% or more, and Ni is 0.5% or more. However, if it is excessively contained, a supercooled structure is formed and ductility and toughness are lowered. Therefore, V is preferably 0.5% or less, Cu is 3% or less, and Ni is preferably 3% or less. More preferably, V is 0.3% or less, Cu is 2% or less, and Ni is 2% or less. V, Cu, and Ni may each be contained alone, or two or more selected arbitrarily may be contained.

Such a high-strength steel of the present invention is obtained by processing a steel satisfying the above component composition at a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher, and then, in the temperature range from 800 ° C. to 500 ° C., with an average cooling rate Va satisfying the following formula (4). It can be manufactured by cooling.
0.1 × Vc <Va <0.9 × Vc (4)

By processing at a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher, the metal structure becomes an austenite single phase, and then cooling by appropriately controlling the average cooling rate Va in the temperature range from 800 ° C. to 500 ° C. Can be generated.

The processing performed at 850 ° C. or higher is a work heat treatment accompanied by heating, such as hot rolling or hot forging, and may be plastic processing. When the processing performed at 850 ° C. or higher is hot rolling, steel that satisfies the above component composition is melted and cast, and then hot rolled at a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher. On the other hand, when the processing performed at 850 ° C. or higher is hot forging, a steel satisfying the above component composition is prepared, and this steel may be hot forged at a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher.

The processing temperature is preferably 950 ° C. or higher. Although the upper limit of processing temperature is not specifically limited, For example, it is about 1050 degreeC.

The average cooling rate Va needs to satisfy the range defined by the above formula (4), and Vc indicates a critical cooling rate. Vc is calculated by the following formula (5), and k is calculated by the following formula (6). In the following formula (6), [] indicates the content (% by mass) of each element. Ni, Cr, Mo, and Nb are selective elements in the high-strength steel of the present invention. Therefore, when not added, it may be calculated that there is no term.
Vc = 10 ^k (5)
k = 4.05- {4.5 × [C] + [Mn] + 0.5 × [Ni] + 0.8 × [Cr] + 1.6 × [Mo] + 9.0 × [Nb]} (6)

When the average cooling rate Va becomes 0.1 × Vc or less, the amount of bainite produced decreases and the strength becomes insufficient. Therefore, the average cooling rate Va is more than 0.1 × Vc, preferably 0.2 × Vc or more, more preferably 0.3 × Vc or more. However, when the average cooling rate Va is 0.9 × Vc or more, the amount of bainite generated increases and the strength becomes too high, so that machinability deteriorates. Therefore, the average cooling rate Va is less than 0.9 × Vc, preferably 0.8 × Vc or less, more preferably 0.7 × Vc or less.

The high-strength steel of the present invention obtained by cooling under the above conditions has the strength required for steel parts despite excellent machinability. Therefore, if the high-strength steel of the present invention is cut into a part shape, it has the strength required as a steel part even in the state of cutting. That is, if a steel part is manufactured using the high-strength steel of the present invention, heat treatment such as quenching and tempering (tempering) and carburizing and quenching, which has been conventionally performed to improve the strength after cutting, can be omitted.

As the above-mentioned cutting process, the effect of the present invention is sufficiently exhibited by adopting intermittent cutting process (hobbing process). The intermittent cutting process may be performed at a low speed (specifically, a cutting speed of about 150 m / min or less) and a low temperature (specifically, about 200 to 600 ° C.).

When cutting the high-strength steel into a part shape, it is necessary to perform cutting without heating to a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher. When the high-strength steel is heated to a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher, all the appropriately adjusted metal structures are cancelled, so that machinability deteriorates. In other words, the high-strength steel may be cut after being heated in a range where the temperature does not become 850 ° C. or higher before being cut into a part shape.

The high-strength steel may be cold-worked and / or warm-worked as necessary before cutting, and at this time, it is necessary to control the temperature not to exceed 850 ° C. *

Since the steel part of the present invention is formed of the above-described high-strength steel, it satisfies the composition and metal structure of the high-strength steel and has the strength required as a steel part. In order to further improve the wear resistance, surface hardening treatment may be performed.

The surface hardening treatment should not increase the temperature of the entire steel part as in the case of quenching and tempering (tempering), but should adopt a method of hardening only the surface of the steel part so as not to reduce the strength of the steel part. .

Examples of the surface hardening treatment method include induction hardening and nitriding treatment.

Induction hardening is a method in which the surface of a steel part is sequentially heated for a short time with an induction hardening apparatus, and the heated portion is immediately cooled and quenched. As a cooling method, water cooling (for example, jet water cooling) is employed. The heating temperature is, for _{example, A C3} transformation point or more, it may be set to 950 ° C. or less. The heating temperature is preferably _AC3 transformation point + 30 ° C. or higher and 920 ° C. or lower.

Tempering may be performed after induction hardening. The tempering temperature may be, for example, 100 ° C. or more and 250 ° C. or less. Preferably it is 120 degreeC or more and 230 degrees C or less.

As a nitriding method, methods such as ion nitriding (plasma nitriding) and radical nitriding can be applied. Preferred conditions for the nitriding treatment are a treatment temperature: 500 to 650 ° C. (more preferably 500 to 575 ° C.), and a treatment time: 4 to 12 hours (more preferably 6 to 10 hours). If the treatment temperature during the nitriding treatment exceeds 650 ° C., the steel is easily softened, and if it is lower than 500 ° C., the nitriding depth (hardened layer depth) becomes shallow and the surface is not sufficiently cured.

The steel parts of the present invention are used as mechanical structural parts such as gears, shafts, pulleys, constant velocity joints, etc., as well as crankshafts, connecting rods, etc. used in various gear transmissions including transmissions and differentials for automobiles. It can be used suitably.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited by the following examples, but may be appropriately modified within a range that can meet the purpose described above and below. Of course, it is possible to implement them, and they are all included in the technical scope of the present invention.

150 kg of steel with the chemical composition shown in Table 1 below (the balance is iron and inevitable impurities) is melted in a vacuum induction furnace, cast into an ingot with an upper surface of φ245 mm, a lower surface of φ210 mm and a length of 480 mm, and hot forging (soaking) 1250 ° C. × about 3 hours, forging heating: 1100 ° C. × about 1 hour) to obtain a round bar of φ60 mm. After hot forging, the average cooling rate Va (° C./second) in the temperature range from 800 ° C. to 500 ° C. was controlled by adjusting the use of the heat insulating material, the blowing conditions, and the like. Table 2 below shows the average cooling rate Va. Table 2 below shows the content of the components shown in Table 1 below, the k value calculated from the above formulas (5) and (6), the Vc value (value of 10 ^k ), and “0.1 × Vc”. ”And“ 0.9 × Vc ”, respectively.

After cooling, it was cut to produce a plate material of thickness: 30 mm × width: 155 mm × length: 100 mm.

About the obtained board | plate material, the bainite area rate f (B) and Vickers hardness which occupy for a metal structure were measured in the procedure shown below. Further, the machinability of the plate material was evaluated by the following procedure.

《Observation of metal structure》
The metal structure of the plate material was subjected to repeller corrosion at the center of the plate thickness, and the area ratio of each structure was measured by image analysis of a photograph taken with an optical microscope at an observation magnification of 200 times. Among the structures, the bainite area ratio f (B) is shown in Table 2 below. It was confirmed that the structures other than bainite were ferrite and pearlite.

Table 2 below shows values obtained by calculating the left side and the right side of Formula (2) or Formula (3) based on the C amount shown in Table 1 below. No. For No. 22, formula (2), no. For Formula 23, Formula (3) was followed.

The pass / fail result is shown in the following table, where the bainite area ratio f (B) satisfies the relationship of the above formula (2) or formula (3) according to the amount of C, and the case where it is not satisfied is ×. It is shown in 2.

<Measurement of Vickers hardness>
In order to evaluate the strength of the plate material, the Vickers hardness Hv of the plate material was measured. The Vickers hardness was measured as a load: 200 g at the center position of a cross section of thickness: 30 mm × width: 155 mm. The measurement results are shown in Table 2 below. In the present invention, the case where the Vickers hardness is Hv230 or higher is regarded as acceptable (high strength), and the case where it is less than Hv230 is regarded as unacceptable (low strength).

<< Machinability of plate material (Machinability evaluation during intermittent cutting) >>
In order to evaluate the machinability of the plate material, an end mill cutting test was performed, and the amount of tool wear when the plate material was cut intermittently was measured. In the end mill cutting test, after removing the scale of the plate material, the surface was ground by about 2 mm and used as an end mill cutting test piece (work material). Specifically, an end mill tool is attached to the main spindle of the machining center, and a test piece of thickness: 25 mm × width: 150 mm × length: 100 mm manufactured as described above is fixed with a vise, under a dry cutting atmosphere ( Down-cut processing was performed at room temperature). Detailed processing conditions are shown in Table 3 below. After performing 200 intermittent cuttings, the tool surface was observed with an optical microscope at an observation magnification of 100, and the flank wear amount (tool wear amount) Vb was measured to obtain an average value. The results are shown in Table 2 below. In the present invention, those having a flank wear amount Vb of 100 μm or less after intermittent cutting were evaluated as “excellent machinability during intermittent cutting”.

In addition, No. shown in Table 2 below. For 14, 15, 19, 20, 22, 26, and 27, the plate material was subjected to surface hardening treatment, and the Vickers hardness after the surface hardening treatment was measured. As the surface hardening treatment, nitriding treatment or induction hardening was performed. As the nitriding treatment, gas soft nitriding treatment was performed at a treatment temperature of 530 ° C. and a treatment time of 2 hours. Induction hardening was performed at a heating temperature of 850 ° C. and cooling was performed by water cooling.

The Vickers hardness of the plate material after the surface hardening treatment was measured as a load: 200 g at the center position of a cross section of thickness: 30 mm × width: 155 mm. As a result, the Vickers hardness after the surface hardening treatment was not changed from the Vickers hardness before the surface hardening treatment.

Table 1 and Table 2 can be considered as follows. No. Nos. 1 to 21 are examples that satisfy the requirements defined in the present invention, and a steel having both desired hardness (strength) and machinability can be realized.

On the other hand, No. 22 to 27 are examples that do not satisfy any of the requirements defined in the present invention, and at least one of strength and machinability cannot be improved. No. No. 22 is an example in which the amount of C is too small, bainite is not generated, and hardness is not secured. Therefore, the strength is insufficient. No. 23 is an example in which the amount of C is excessive and the average cooling rate Va exceeds a predetermined range. Therefore, bainite is generated excessively, becomes too hard, the flank wear amount Vb increases, and the machinability deteriorates.

No. 24 is an example in which there is too little Al, and the relationship between Al and N does not satisfy the above formula (1). Therefore, since the amount of dissolved Al is insufficient, the flank wear amount Vb is increased, and the machinability cannot be improved. No. No. 25 is an example in which B is too small, and since the amount of dissolved Al is insufficient, the flank wear amount Vb is increased and the machinability cannot be improved.

No. No. 26 is an example in which the average cooling rate Va falls below the range defined in the present invention, and since the amount of bainite produced is too small, the hardness cannot be ensured and the strength is insufficient. No. No. 27 is an example in which the average cooling rate Va exceeds the range defined in the present invention. Since bainite is excessively generated, the flank wear amount Vb increases and the machinability cannot be improved.

Although the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This application is based on a Japanese patent application filed on June 10, 2010 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-133316), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The high-strength steel of the present invention can ensure the strength required as a steel part without performing heat treatment such as quenching and tempering (tempering) or carburizing and quenching after cutting into the shape of the part. Because of its excellent performance, it is useful for mechanical structural parts such as gears, shafts, pulleys, constant velocity joints, crankshafts, connecting rods, etc., used in various gear transmissions including transmissions for high-strength automobiles and differentials.

Claims (8)

1. C: 0.20 to 0.70% (meaning mass%, the same shall apply hereinafter),
   Si: 0.03 to 2%,
   Mn: 0.2-1.8%
   P: 0.03% or less (excluding 0%),
   S: 0.10% or less (excluding 0%),
   Al: 0.12 to 0.5%,
   B: 0.0005 to 0.008%,
   N: 0.002 to 0.030%, and O: 0.002% or less (excluding 0%),
   Al and N satisfy the relationship of the following formula (1), the balance is steel composed of iron and inevitable impurities,
   When the amount of C contained in the steel is 0.20% or more and less than 0.35%, the metal structure is a mixed structure of ferrite, pearlite, and bainite, and the area ratio f (B) of bainite is expressed by the following formula ( 2)
   When the amount of C is 0.35% or more and 0.70% or less, the metal structure is a mixed structure of ferrite and pearlite, or a mixed structure containing bainite, and the area ratio f (B) of bainite is as follows. A high-strength steel excellent in machinability characterized by satisfying the formula (3).
   0.10 <[Al] -1.9 × [N] (1)
   −60 × [C] +21 <f (B) <− 60 × [C] +50 (2)
   0 ≦ f (B) <− 60 × [C] +50 (3)
   [In the above formulas (1) to (3), [] represents the content (% by mass) of each element. ]
2. As other elements,
   The high-strength steel according to claim 1, containing Cr: 1.5% or less (excluding 0%).
3. As other elements,
   The high-strength steel according to claim 1 or 2, which contains Mo: 1% or less (not including 0%).
4. As other elements,
   Ti: 0.005% or less (excluding 0%),
   Zr: 0.02% or less (excluding 0%),
   Hf: 0.02% or less (excluding 0%),
   2. At least one element selected from the group consisting of Ta: 0.02% or less (not including 0%) and Nb: 0.15% or less (not including 0%) is included. 4. The high strength steel according to any one of items 1 to 3.
5. As other elements,
   V: 0.5% or less (excluding 0%),
   The element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu: 3% or less (excluding 0%) and Ni: 3% or less (excluding 0%). 2. The high-strength steel according to item 1.
6. A steel part formed of the high-strength steel according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
7. A steel satisfying the component composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
   After processing at a temperature of 850 ° C. or higher, manufacturing a high-strength steel excellent in machinability characterized by cooling a temperature range from 800 ° C. to 500 ° C. at an average cooling rate Va satisfying the following formula (4). Method.
   0.1 × Vc <Va <0.9 × Vc (4)
   [In the above formula (4), Vc is represented by the following formula (5), and k is represented by the following formula (6). In addition, in following formula (6), [] has shown content (mass%) of each element.
   Vc = 10 ^k (5)
   k = 4.05- {4.5 × [C] + [Mn] + 0.5 × [Ni] + 0.8 × [Cr] + 1.6 × [Mo] + 9.0 × [Nb]} (6)]
8. A method for producing a steel part, comprising cutting the high-strength steel according to any one of claims 1 to 5 without heating to a temperature of 850 ° C or higher.