Heat treatment and materials selection for reliable electrified drivelines (HeatDrive)
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 3 900 000 |
| Project duration | April 2021 - December 2024 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme for Metallic material |
| Call | Metallic materials for the electrified society |
Important results from the project
The methodology to test carburising steels using a through carburizing process works well as stress levels correspond to those seen in other types of test set-ups. The results can be used to assess manufacturing concepts, i.e. steel grades in combination with heat treatments, to optimize performance and meet the future requirements. Knowledge built can be exploited in further material and process development to provide solutions for increased driveline performance as rotational speeds increase.
Expected long term effects
The lab methodology for controlled testing and mapping of the damage mechanisms that are accentuated as load cycles increase enables continued material and process development to develop and evaluate new solutions regarding steel and heat treatment to meet the demands of future powertrains with high loads and speeds.
Approach and implementation
WP1 focused on development of a lab-based methodology for ultrasonic fatigue testing (UFT) of carburised case-hardening steels and WP2 on gear-wheel fatigue. Testing was performed and evaluated the fatigue strength distribution supported by fractography, microstructural analyses and hardness measurements. The test matrix included several carburising steels with different cleanliness grades, carbon levels and a variety of quenching media.