More info
Description / Abstract:
This standard covers the requirements for induction hardening
and tempering heat treatment of the cylinder bores of gray iron
Duramax cylinder blocks. This standard only covers the
metallurgical (microstructure and hardness) requirements of the
Duramax block and the methods to verify.
Material Description. Induction hardening of
the cylinder bores in the DMax cylinder block is performed to
improve the wear-resistance in the piston-ring upper ring reversal
zone by selectively hardening only the region necessary to
accomplish improved wear resistance, see Figure 1. The choice of
induction hardening for this task was due to its flexibility in
heating only the precise area required and its very short cycle
time. Additionally, the martensitic transformation results in an
approximately 4.3% increase in specific volume, thus the pattern
was developed to minimize the impact on cylinder bore distortion.
Induction hardening of ferrous materials entails three basic steps;
heating to the austenitizing temperature; holding to fully convert
the structure to austenite; and rapidly cooling to convert the
austenite to martensite. In addition, many parts are subsequently
tempered to improve toughness.
Symbols. Not applicable.
Applicability. Response to induction hardening
is strongly influenced by initial process design parameters in
addition to the following variables:
- Incoming Material: composition, microstructure, residual
stress.
- Part Dimensions: bore wall variation: thickness, diameter,
cylindricity.
- Process Control: coil-to-part clearance, power input, timing,
quench water.
- Documentation: hardened structure pattern, case
depth.
This specification is limited to assessing and verifying the
effectiveness of the hardening/tempering process in producing the
microstructure, hardness and pattern of transformed microstructure
on the bore inner circumference.
Remarks. Appendix A contains the description of
the incoming block material that has been found to satisfactorily
respond to induction hardening, including composition,
microstructure and hardness.