Optimized Compound Layer Design for Highly Loaded Nitrided Gears

Abstract

AbstractNitriding is a thermochemical surface hardening process, which can be used to improve the performance properties of gears. In particular, the tooth flank and tooth root load-carrying capacity can be significantly increased by nitriding. Previous work has shown that tribological dominated failure modes and limits, such as the micro-pitting and wear load-carrying capacity of gears, can be significantly increased by a suitable compound layer structure. In this work, the relationship between compound layer design and macro-pitting load-carrying capacity of nitrided gears is explored based on experimental investigations. For this purpose, the materials EN31CrMoV9 and EN42CrMo4 were nitrided under varying nitriding conditions to produce compound layers with different structures and properties. The characteristics of the compound layer such as phase composition, compound layer thickness and pore seam were extensively characterized by means of metallographic techniques, XRD, GDOES, and EBSD. Experimental investigations of the macro-pitting load-carrying capacity were carried out on an FZG back-to-back gear test rig with center distance a = 52 mm. It was shown that the pitting load-carrying capacity depends to a large extent on the characteristics of the compound layer, in particular on the formation of the pore seam. A minimum pore seam thickness of CLTP ≥ 1.8 µm has a positive effect on the pitting load-carrying capacity. The test results for the pitting load-carrying capacity are above (σH lim ≥ 1690 N/mm2) or, in some cases, significantly above (σH lim = 1979 N/mm2) the strength values specified in ISO 6336-5:2016 for nitrided nitriding steels (σH lim = 1450 N/mm2; material quality ME) and case-hardened alloy steels (σH lim = 1650 N/mm2; material quality ME).