2.

Development of Nitrocarburized High Strength Crankshaft

Through Controlling Vanadium Carbonitride Precipitation by
Normalizing
Paper #:
 2009-32-0076
Published:
 2009-11-03
Author(s):
 Satoru SUWA
 Daiji KAWAGUCHI
 Atsushi MURAKAMI
 Kazuyoshi KIMURA
 Masato TADA
Affiliated:
 Honda R&D Co., Ltd.
 Daido Steel Co., Ltd.
Pages:
7
Abstract:
In addition to the requirements of high power output and compactness, further reduction of weight is
being required for motorcycle engines from the standpoint of fuel economy and reduction of CO2
emissions. For this purpose, it is important to reduce crankshaft weight, which is the heaviest rotating
part in the engine. The crankshaft has to be strong enough to bear loads, as the demands of weight
reduction are increasing. Yet, productivity has to be considered at the same time even when
increasing crankshaft strength. In this report of crankshaft material studies that feature high fatigue
strength, machinability and distortion correct-ability, attention is given to the fact that the amount of
vanadium, which is known as an element that enhances the strength with its precipitation, accelerates
deposition, dissolved in the steel depends on the heating temperature. The material that allows for the
increase of strength by control of the normalizing temperature, for which processing conditions can be
set easier than the control of cooling after hot forging, has been developed. By setting the normalizing
temperature at the optimum level, the fatigue strength is improved by more than 30% from
conventional alloy steel while maintaining machinability and distortion correct-ability.
Event:
 Small Engine Technology Conference & Exposition
Sector:
 Automotive
Topic:
 Vanadium alloys
 Cranksha