Comparison of Surface Hardening Processes Applied to AISI 5140 Steel withSide Load Test

Abstract

While the vehicle suspension system parts perform the functions expected from them, the surfaces of the parts areexposed to higher stress and higher abrasive forces compared to theinterior parts. Materials have surface strengthlimits. When the stress and abrasive forces to which the parts are exposed exceed the surface strength limit, cracksoccur on the part surfaces. As the stress and forces on the part increase, the part is damaged by breaking.
 AISI 5140 Reclamation steel is generally preferred for the joints in the vehicles. This steel is a material with hightoughness. Its usage areas are very wide. Parts such as automobile and engine parts, axle sleeve, front axle,steeringshaft, crankshaft, bolts, nuts and joints can be given as examples of usage areas. It is also a suitable material for surfacehardening processes. The purpose of the surface hardening process is to increase the wear resistance of the surfacesexposed to wear, as well as to increase the fatigue life of the part and increase the corrosion resistance. Since the innerparts of the parts are not affected by surface hardening, the resistance against impacts is increased and thus crackformation on the surface is delayed. Fatigue life is extended by delaying crack formation on the surface. In this study,the comparison of a part with induction surface hardening, which is one of the methods in which the chemical com-position of the surface is not changed, apart with nitration, which is one of the methods in which the chemical com-position of the surface is changed, and a part without any surface hardening, with the side load test, which is a statictest method. subject taken.The results from the tests applied to the samples were interpreted.According to the resultsobtained, the sample with the highest durability rate is the sample that has been surface hardened by induction.