CV Joints
CV Joints
CV Joints
Steel
composition, cleanness, hardenability
Performance
strength, fatigue resistance, wear resistance,
Heat Treatment
induction hardening, case carburising
Performance Requirements
The torsional loading and rotational motion in the system determine the main requirements for CV joints and driveshafts: High strength with a tough core Hard wear resistant surface Resistance to failure by torsional and rolling contact fatigue
Design Criteria
cost, weight, durability, packaging, loading
Material Requirements
Outer races and driveshafts are made from medium carbon through hardening steels. Inner races and tripods are made from low carbon carburising steels. Steels with optimised performance and reduced through costs are required. In addition to the standard grades Corus offers enhanced steels with some, or all, of the following optional characteristics: Controlled sulphur content balances the conflicting requirements of low sulphur for formability and fatigue properties, and high sulphur for improved machinability Controlled hardenability steels with tight compositional control ensure repeatability of mechanical properties Defect free bar prevents cracking during warm or cold forging Controlled carbon content produces consistent response to induction hardening of outer races and driveshafts
Manufacturing Requirements
The outer races are precision formed usually by warm forging from bar, followed by machining and induction hardening. Inner races and tripods are cold forged, machined and carburise heat treated. Drive shafts are produced from peeled bar and the splines are formed by cold rolling. The entire surface is then induction hardened. An efficient manufacturing process for each of these components demands: Sufficient ductility for the forming process Good machinability Consistent and repeatable response to heat treatment
Future Developments
Tripod Outboard Outer Race Driveshaft Inboard Outer Race Outboard Inner Race Lean Manufacturing, throughout the supply chain, offers the most scope for further improved value CV joints and driveshafts. Existing steel enhancements fully satisfy anticipated future performance requirements.
Designation
Mn
Cr
Mo
Component
C50*
0.20
Outer Races
C45
38B3 16MnCr5 20MnCr5 18CrMo4
Driveshafts 0.002
* C50 is used for both outer races and driveshafts. Lower sulphur levels for improved formability are normally specified for outer races.
Material Properties
Consistency of Induction Hardening Response
Calculated from the chemical composition, the ideal diameter (DI) is a recognised measure of hardenability. Using fully computerised control of steelmaking and models of hardenability response, Corus enhanced 38B3 driveshaft steel achieves a narrow 10mm range of DI, fully satisfying customers needs for tight specifications to control variations in mechanical properties. This consistency is a significant improvement on comparable standard steels which typically have a DI range >50mm.
Consistency of Hardenability
Corus achieves tight control of hardenability from cast to cast. Results on over 50 casts of 16MnCr5 steel fall within a much narrower hardenability band than specified by the recognised standard BS EN 10084:1998
Distribution of DI
35
Hardenability Control
Steel grade: 38B3
50 45
30
20 15 10 5 0 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Hardness (HRc)
Frequency (%)
25
40 35 30 25 20 15 0 10 20 30 40 50
DI (mm) Corus
Position (mm) BS EN
Corus steels for CV joints and driveshafts are used by: Fiat, Honda, Land Rover, Nissan, Opel, Rover, Toyota, VW Corus Engineering Steels PO Box 50 Aldwarke Lane Rotherham S60 1DW United Kingdom Telephone +44 (0) 1709 371234 Facsimile +44 (0) 1709 826233 www.corusengineeringsteels.com